REVOLUTIONARIES? [and lots of commentary on the past month
at the bottom]
The following are quotes from some very famous people- I
obviously do not agree with all of these statements- though some have merit. In
society today it’s easy to demean the enemy- to say ‘these people hate us
because they are animals- they want to destroy our way of life’. In actuality-
there are reasons- stated- by them- for why some of them do the things they do.
And sadly- some of their complaints are legitimate.
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
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.
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?
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.
(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?
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 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?’
WHO SAID THIS?
Osama Bin Laden.
‘John- why would you even give the
time of day to him’?
Because- sadly- SOME of what he
said is true.
I have said many of these same
things- before ever reading this response [which was posted years ago].
I have written about the U.S.
support of wicked ‘kings’ and how we overlook the oppression of the people who
live in their lands [in the Arab world] simply because it is to our benefit for
these Monarchs to rule [Bahrain- Saudi Arabia- the list goes on].
I have written about the drones- remote
control planes- that strike fear in the hearts of women and children living on
the border of Afghanistan/Pakistan.
You have no idea [nor do I] what
it’s like to have to go out every day- your kids in the hills- with these
‘terror’ like remote control planes flying over your head- never knowing when
they might make a mistake and kill your kids [which has happened a lot!].
Understand- we in the West embrace
an ignorant idea about why Muslim extremists do what they do- many of the
reasons they do it- are not what we in the West think.
What if some Muslim country wanted
to establish a military presence in the middle of the U.S.?
And say if they practiced all
types of atrocities- while inhabiting our land.
Would we not react?
Would we not react by force?
Would we call our reaction
‘extremism”?
I have written about the historic
bombing of Japan- and how the actual act itself- the purposeful bombing of civilians
to accomplish a military goal- is one of the definitions of terrorism.
We targeted those cities- knowing
full well that women and children would die- to accomplish a goal- the ending
of the war.
It might surprise you to have read
the many reasons that Bin laden himself stated as his reason for fighting us-
he did not- once- say ‘because we hate your way of life’.
No- it was- in his mind- our ‘intrusion’
into their way of life.
Our support of corrupt leaders-
our economic policies that do business in countries- while the poor people of
these same countries reap no benefits [much like the Revolution of Che Guevara].
Now- bin Laden gave the Muslim
perspective of ‘who’ has the historical right to Palestine’.
I have written a lot over the
years about the actual biblical teaching on the Land Promises given to Abraham-
and have traced this promise to the time of Christ.
In the New Testament itself-
written by the Jewish followers of Christ- they primarily teach the Promise of
God- about ‘who gets the Promised Land [Israel]’ is not thru the law [not about
an ethnic group- law meaning those who have entered into the Judaic covenant-
thru the rite of circumcision].
No- the Apostles teach the Jesus
is seated at the right hand of God- and all who believe are now entering into
the true spiritual kingdom of God- the promise is now ‘extended’ to a spiritual
kingdom- for all who believe.
Bin laden actually mentioned the
historical reason why the Jewish people are now in the land.
I have taught this in the past-
and part of the influence of the British to give the land to the Jewish people
arose out of the Evangelical understanding of these actual promises we read
about in the bible.
Yes- Dispensationalism [a certain strain
of Protestant belief] grabbed hold of these promises- and taught that one of
the primary signs that had to happen before the 2nd coming was the
natural Jews had to re-possess the land.
Now- I’m not here to debate with
my dispensational brothers- but I want you to see how the development of certain
Christian views- which are actually not in keeping with the bible [in my view]
do indeed play a role in this.
And it’s surprising to actually
see this argument coming from the pen of Bin laden.
So- today we live in a very
divided- and dangerous world- and it doesn’t do justice- for any of us- to keep
saying the radical Muslims are attacking us simply because they ‘hate our way
of life’.
That’s too simplistic- and
actually not true.
‘For he is not a Jew, which
is one outwardly ; neither is
that circumcision, which
is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is
one inwardly ; and circumcision is that of
the heart, in the spirit, and not in
the letter whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Circumcision
is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments
of God. For in Jesus Christ
neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which
worketh by love.
For
we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ
Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
In
whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in
putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Where
there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian,
Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. [Paul the Apostle].
http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/13-year-old_yemeni_boy_killed_by_us_death_machines_20150212# Are we accountable for this stuff?
https://archive.org/download/Malcolm_X/Malcolm_X_1964_Oxford_Debate_64kb.mp3 Here is a
famous debate by Malcolm x- I heard it a while back- what I want my readers to
see in these posts- is some of the grievances these men had- were indeed legitimate.
Not all- but some.
I want to clarify- I in no way
condone the mindset of the way they approached settling these grievances- but I
also write critically of Western military action- which in some cases- are in
actuality violence- for some of the same reasons that these men too chose
violence [Malcolm X does a good job explaining this in the video]
So- for any fair critique- we need
to see both sides of all issues.
I was surprised when I read/heard
these men- we often view people thru what the media tell us- listen closely to
what Malcolm X said in this video- he was correct about this aspect.
DOCTOR TO REVOLUTIONARY-
Che Guevara was studying to be a
medical student in Argentina- he took time off to examine the plight of the
people in Latin America
Che toured Latin America on 2
famous motorcycle trips [recounted in the book/movie motorcycle diaries] - on
his way to Machu Pichu- he witnessed the poverty of his people- how the poor
peasant farmers lived in depravity- while the wealthy Landlords reaped the
profits.
In Chile- he saw the working
conditions of the miners- and attributed it to the ‘evils of capitalism’- how
the wealthy nations/corporations reap a harvest from the Latin American lands-
while the profits go to corporations and wealthy nations- all at the expense of
the exploitation of the working poor.
He saw himself as an advocate for
his people- in his revolutionary activity- he envisioned a untied Hispanic
people- as opposed to all the different countries that make up Latin America.
I mention this- because in all of
the examples I’m giving in this post- as radical as these men were- and oft condemned-
yet- they had in common a real concern for the under-class.
Those that they felt were being
oppressed by others- who were greater in power and wealth.
The prophets of the bible did
indeed speak up for the poor- the oppressed.
James 5:1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
James 5:2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are
motheaten.
James 5:3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them
shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye
have heaped treasure together for the last days.
James 5:4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down
your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them
which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
James 5:5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton;
ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
James 5:6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not
resist you.
Che’s observation of people living
in a Leper colony-
"The
highest forms of human solidarity and loyalty arise among such lonely and
desperate people."[-
He would go on to become a Revolutionary-
meet up with Fidel Castro in Mexico in 1954- who was also planning a Revolt against
the U.S. backed leader of Cuba- Batista.
They took an old rickety boat from
Mexico- named the Granma- with around 80 people.
They started a revolution against
the U.S. backed government of Cuba- they lost about 80 % of their group- by the
time the boat landed on the shores of Cuba- and met with Batista’s army- they
had around 22 fighters left.
This small group of radicals- eventually
overthrew the Cuban leader- backed by the U.S.!
Che would attend U.N. meetings in
New York- wearing his guerilla uniform- and speak out against what he saw as
the evils of the U.S. and capitalism.
It’s amazing to see these clips-
he was leading actual guerilla troops- and also being a spokesman for a cause
he believed in- in front of a world wide audience.
He would eventually try to spread
his revolutionary ideas and lead another revolution in Bolivia.
The U.S. had enough- and we finally
assassinated him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw1R_JBuHEQ Martin
Luther King’s famous I have a dream speech.
In this post I’m not equating Bin
Laden- Malcolm X- with Jesus!
What I’m trying to do is broaden our
perspective.
I would of course say that I
totally agree with Jesus- on each and every point.
And MLK is a true hero of mine- I
can’t say that about the others in this post.
Look at how Jesus himself spoke- these were words that were angry- and those that heard him knew it. He spoke out against injustice- those who were putting great burdens on others- yet they themselves never had to bear them. The prophets of the bible [and not in the bible] have done the same things.
As I watch and comment [bottom] on some of the current events- I hear men- commentators- speak boldly about the necessity of war- not backing down. Many of these men never knew what it was like for their children to be bombed- or their families to spend years under oppressive regimes.
Yet- they call for action- but if they spent even one day- having to bear the end result of what they call for- they would change their mind. Jesus rebuked those in authority because their actions- their understanding of the law of God- took precedence over the people- how the beliefs they embraced- so boldly- were void of the true law of God.
Which included mercy on your fellow man- to make sure we value the rights of people- more than our own views about what we think is right. In these rebukes Jesus says ‘you think you are doing right- that you are the pride of the world- yet you don’t see how far you have fallen- you are unable to see how your own views- beliefs- contradict the very thing you are calling for’!
Jesus was visibly angry in these rebukes- he was ‘raging’ in a sense. And those who heard him- knew it.
Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Matthew 23:16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
Matthew 23:17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
Matthew 23:18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
Matthew 23:19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
Matthew 23:20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
Matthew 23:21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
Matthew 23:22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Matthew 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Matthew 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Matthew 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Matthew 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Matthew 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Matthew 23:29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
Matthew 23:30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Matthew 23:31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Matthew 23:32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
Matthew 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Matthew 23:34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
Matthew 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Matthew 23:36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Matthew 23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Matthew 23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought
in the temple, and overthrew [ HE WAS MAD HERE- HE THREW
THE TABLES OVER AND WAS YELLING AT THEM!] the tables of
the moneychangers, and the seats of them
that sold doves,
13 And said unto them, It
is written , My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Revelation 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
saith unto the churches.
Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans
write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the
beginning of the creation of God;
Revelation 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor
hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Revelation 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither
cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with
goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and
miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the
fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed,
and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with
eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be
zealous therefore, and repent.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man
hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him,
and he with me.
Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me
in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his
throne.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUBYI97cUgU Howard
Zinn- another Radical- if you will.
Zinn was a bomber pilot in WW2- he
served his country admirably- dropped bombs- did his job well.
Over time he became a history
teacher/student- yet on his own he researched and saw a different side to
things- things that he never contemplated before.
He would write his own history
book- and become an advocate for the poor and oppressed.
He became an anti-war advocate-
and a true humanitarian- Zinn died a few years ago.
This week’s post is a bit
different- I penned it as an ‘aside’- while focusing on our Romans study- so- I
decided not to comment on any politics- until the study was complete.
And yes- there was stuff to cover.
The President got a ton of
criticism with this speech- now- I believe in critiquing him when we need to-
But- I felt this message he gave
at the prayer breakfast was actually good.
He touched on many of the issues I
spoke about in this post.
So- I thought it appropriate share
his words.
THE
PRESIDENT: Thank you. Well, good morning. Giving all praise
and honor to God. It is wonderful to be back with you here. I want
to thank our co-chairs, Bob and Roger. These two don’t always agree in
the Senate, but in coming together and uniting us all in prayer, they embody
the spirit of our gathering today.
I
also want to thank everybody who helped organize this breakfast. It’s
wonderful to see so many friends and faith leaders and dignitaries. And
Michelle and I are truly honored to be joining you here today.
I
want to offer a special welcome to a good friend, His Holiness the Dalai Lama
-- who is a powerful example of what it means to practice compassion, who
inspires us to speak up for the freedom and dignity of all human beings.
(Applause.) I’ve been pleased to welcome him to the White House on many
occasions, and we’re grateful that he’s able to join us here today.
(Applause.)
There
aren’t that many occasions that bring His Holiness under the same roof as
NASCAR. (Laughter.) This may be the first. (Laughter.)
But God works in mysterious ways. (Laughter.) And so I want
to thank Darrell for that wonderful presentation. Darrell knows that when
you’re going 200 miles an hour, a little prayer cannot hurt.
(Laughter.) I suspect that more than once, Darrell has had the same
thought as many of us have in our own lives -- Jesus, take the wheel.
(Laughter.) Although I hope that you kept your hands on the wheel when you were
thinking that. (Laughter.)
He
and I obviously share something in having married up. And we are so
grateful to Stevie for the incredible work that they’ve done together to build
a ministry where the fastest drivers can slow down a little bit, and spend some
time in prayer and reflection and thanks. And we certainly want to wish
Darrell a happy birthday. (Applause.) Happy birthday.
I
will note, though, Darrell, when you were reading that list of things folks
were saying about you, I was thinking, well, you're a piker. I mean, that
-- (laughter.) I mean, if you really want a list, come talk to me.
(Laughter.) Because that ain’t nothing. (Laughter.) That's
the best they can do in NASCAR? (Laughter.)
Slowing
down and pausing for fellowship and prayer -- that's what this breakfast is
about. I think it's fair to say Washington moves a lot slower than
NASCAR. Certainly my agenda does sometimes. (Laughter.) But
still, it’s easier to get caught up in the rush of our lives, and in the
political back-and-forth that can take over this city. We get sidetracked
with distractions, large and small. We can’t go 10 minutes without
checking our smartphones -- and for my staff, that's every 10 seconds.
And so for 63 years, this prayer tradition has brought us together, giving us
the opportunity to come together in humility before the Almighty and to be
reminded of what it is that we share as children of God.
And certainly for me, this is
always a chance to reflect on my own faith journey. Many times as
President, I’ve been reminded of a line of prayer that Eleanor Roosevelt was
fond of. She said, “Keep us at tasks too hard for us that we may be driven to
Thee for strength.” Keep us at tasks too hard for us that we may be
driven to Thee for strength. I’ve wondered at times if maybe God was
answering that prayer a little too literally. But no matter the
challenge, He has been there for all of us. He’s certainly strengthened
me “with the power through his Spirit,” as I’ve sought His guidance not just in
my own life but in the life of our nation.
Now, over the last few months, we’ve seen a number of challenges -- certainly over the last six years. But part of what I want to touch on today is the degree to which we've seen professions of faith used both as an instrument of great good, but also twisted and misused in the name of evil.
Now, over the last few months, we’ve seen a number of challenges -- certainly over the last six years. But part of what I want to touch on today is the degree to which we've seen professions of faith used both as an instrument of great good, but also twisted and misused in the name of evil.
As
we speak, around the world, we see faith inspiring people to lift up one
another -- to feed the hungry and care for the poor, and comfort the afflicted
and make peace where there is strife. We heard the good work that Sister
has done in Philadelphia, and the incredible work that Dr. Brantly and his
colleagues have done. We see faith driving us to do right.
But
we also see faith being twisted and distorted, used as a wedge -- or, worse,
sometimes used as a weapon. From a school in Pakistan to the streets of
Paris, we have seen violence and terror perpetrated by those who profess to
stand up for faith, their faith, professed to stand up for Islam, but, in fact,
are betraying it. We see ISIL, a brutal, vicious death cult that, in the
name of religion, carries out unspeakable acts of barbarism --
terrorizing religious minorities like the Yezidis, subjecting women to rape as
a weapon of war, and claiming the mantle of religious authority for such
actions.
We
see sectarian war in Syria, the murder of Muslims and Christians in Nigeria,
religious war in the Central African Republic, a rising tide of anti-Semitism
and hate crimes in Europe, so often perpetrated in the name of religion.
So
how do we, as people of faith, reconcile these realities -- the profound good,
the strength, the tenacity, the compassion and love that can flow from all of
our faiths, operating alongside those who seek to hijack religious for their
own murderous ends?
Humanity
has been grappling with these questions throughout human history. And
lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place,
remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed
terrible deeds in the name of Christ. In our home country, slavery and
Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ. Michelle and
I returned from India -- an incredible, beautiful country, full of magnificent
diversity -- but a place where, in past years, religious faiths of all types
have, on occasion, been targeted by other peoples of faith, simply due to their
heritage and their beliefs -- acts of intolerance that would have shocked
Gandhiji, the person who helped to liberate that nation.
So
this is not unique to one group or one religion. There is a tendency in
us, a sinful tendency that can pervert and distort our faith. In today’s
world, when hate groups have their own Twitter accounts and bigotry can fester
in hidden places in cyberspace, it can be even harder to counteract such
intolerance. But God compels us to try. And in this mission, I believe
there are a few principles that can guide us, particularly those of us who
profess to believe.
And,
first, we should start with some basic humility. I believe that the
starting point of faith is some doubt -- not being so full of yourself and so
confident that you are right and that God speaks only to us, and doesn’t speak
to others, that God only cares about us and doesn’t care about others, that somehow
we alone are in possession of the truth.
Our
job is not to ask that God respond to our notion of truth -- our job is to be
true to Him, His word, and His commandments. And we should assume humbly
that we’re confused and don’t always know what we’re doing and we’re staggering
and stumbling towards Him, and have some humility in that process. And
that means we have to speak up against those who would misuse His name to
justify oppression, or violence, or hatred with that fierce certainty. No
God condones terror. No grievance justifies the taking of innocent lives,
or the oppression of those who are weaker or fewer in number.
And
so, as people of faith, we are summoned to push back against those who try to
distort our religion -- any religion -- for their own nihilistic ends.
And here at home and around the world, we will constantly reaffirm that
fundamental freedom -- freedom of religion -- the right to practice our faith
how we choose, to change our faith if we choose, to practice no faith at all if
we choose, and to do so free of persecution and fear and discrimination.
There’s
wisdom in our founders writing in those documents that help found this nation
the notion of freedom of religion, because they understood the need for
humility. They also understood the need to uphold freedom of speech, that
there was a connection between freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
For to infringe on one right under the pretext of protecting another is a
betrayal of both.
But
part of humility is also recognizing in modern, complicated, diverse societies,
the functioning of these rights, the concern for the protection of these rights
calls for each of us to exercise civility and restraint and judgment. And
if, in fact, we defend the legal right of a person to insult another’s
religion, we’re equally obligated to use our free speech to condemn such
insults -- (applause) -- and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with religious
communities, particularly religious minorities who are the targets of such
attacks. Just because you have the right to say something doesn’t mean
the rest of us shouldn’t question those who would insult others in the name of
free speech. Because we know that our nations are stronger when people of
all faiths feel that they are welcome, that they, too, are full and equal
members of our countries.
So
humility I think is needed. And the second thing we need is to uphold the
distinction between our faith and our governments. Between church and
between state. The United States is one of the most religious countries
in the world -- far more religious than most Western developed countries.
And one of the reasons is that our founders wisely embraced the separation of
church and state. Our government does not sponsor a religion, nor does it
pressure anyone to practice a particular faith, or any faith at all. And
the result is a culture where people of all backgrounds and beliefs can freely
and proudly worship, without fear, or coercion -- so that when you listen to
Darrell talk about his faith journey you know it's real. You know he’s
not saying it because it helps him advance, or because somebody told him
to. It's from the heart.
That’s
not the case in theocracies that restrict people’s choice of faith. It's
not the case in authoritarian governments that elevate an individual leader or
a political party above the people, or in some cases, above the concept of God
Himself. So the freedom of religion is a value we will continue to
protect here at home and stand up for around the world, and is one that we
guard vigilantly here in the United States.
Last
year, we joined together to pray for the release of Christian missionary
Kenneth Bae, held in North Korea for two years. And today, we give thanks
that Kenneth is finally back where he belongs -- home, with his family.
(Applause.)
Last
year, we prayed together for Pastor Saeed Abedini, detained in Iran since
2012. And I was recently in Boise, Idaho, and had the opportunity to meet
with Pastor Abedini’s beautiful wife and wonderful children and to convey to
them that our country has not forgotten brother Saeed and that we’re doing
everything we can to bring him home. (Applause.) And then, I
received an extraordinary letter from Pastor Abedini. And in it, he
describes his captivity, and expressed his gratitude for my visit with his
family, and thanked us all for standing in solidarity with him during his
captivity.
And
Pastor Abedini wrote, “Nothing is more valuable to the Body of Christ than to
see how the Lord is in control, and moves ahead of countries and leadership
through united prayer.” And he closed his letter by describing himself as
“prisoner for Christ, who is proud to be part of this great nation of the
United States of America that cares for religious freedom around the world.”
(Applause.)
We’re
going to keep up this work -- for Pastor Abedini and all those around the world
who are unjustly held or persecuted because of their faith. And
we’re grateful to our new Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious
Freedom, Rabbi David Saperstein -- who has hit the ground running, and is
heading to Iraq in a few days to help religious communities there address some
of those challenges. Where’s David? I know he’s here
somewhere. Thank you, David, for the great work you’re doing.
(Applause.)
Humility;
a suspicion of government getting between us and our faiths, or trying to
dictate our faiths, or elevate one faith over another. And, finally,
let’s remember that if there is one law that we can all be most certain of that
seems to bind people of all faiths, and people who are still finding their way
towards faith but have a sense of ethics and morality in them -- that one law,
that Golden Rule that we should treat one another as we wish to be
treated. The Torah says “Love thy neighbor as yourself.” In Islam,
there is a Hadith that states: "None of you truly believes until he loves
for his brother what he loves for himself.” The Holy Bible tells us to
“put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Put on
love.
Whatever
our beliefs, whatever our traditions, we must seek to be instruments of peace,
and bringing light where there is darkness, and sowing love where there is
hatred. And this is the loving message of His Holiness, Pope
Francis. And like so many people around the world, I’ve been touched by
his call to relieve suffering, and to show justice and mercy and compassion to
the most vulnerable; to walk with The Lord and ask “Who am I to judge?”
He challenges us to press on in what he calls our “march of living hope.”
And like millions of Americans, I am very much looking forward to welcoming
Pope Francis to the United States later this year. (Applause.)
His
Holiness expresses that basic law: Treat thy neighbor as yourself.
The Dalai Lama -- anybody who’s had an opportunity to be with him senses that
same spirit. Kent Brantly expresses that same spirit. Kent was with
Samaritan’s Purse, treating Ebola patients in Liberia, when he contracted the
virus himself. And with world-class medical care and a deep reliance on faith
-- with God’s help, Kent survived. (Applause.)
And
then by donating his plasma, he helped others survive as well. And he
continues to advocate for a global response in West Africa, reminding us that
“our efforts needs to be on loving the people there.” And I could not
have been prouder to welcome Kent and his wonderful wife Amber to the Oval
Office. We are blessed to have him here today -- because he reminds us of
what it means to really “love thy neighbor as thyself.” Not just words,
but deeds.
Each
of us has a role in fulfilling our common, greater purpose -- not merely to
seek high position, but to plumb greater depths so that we may find the
strength to love more fully. And this is perhaps our greatest challenge
-- to see our own reflection in each other; to be our brother’s keepers and
sister’s keepers, and to keep faith with one another. As children of God,
let’s make that our work, together.
As
children of God, let’s work to end injustice -- injustice of poverty and
hunger. No one should ever suffer from such want amidst such
plenty. As children of God, let’s work to eliminate the scourge of
homelessness, because, as Sister Mary says, “None of us are home until all of
us are home.” None of us are home until all of us are home.
As
children of God, let’s stand up for the dignity and value of every woman, and
man, and child, because we are all equal in His eyes, and work to send the
scourge and the sin of modern-day slavery and human trafficking, and “set the
oppressed free.” (Applause.)
If
we are properly humble, if we drop to our knees on occasion, we will
acknowledge that we never fully know God’s purpose. We can never fully
fathom His amazing grace. “We see through a glass, darkly” -- grappling
with the expanse of His awesome love. But even with our limits, we can
heed that which is required: To do justice, and love kindness, and walk
humbly with our God.
I
pray that we will. And as we journey together on this “march of living
hope,” I pray that, in His name, we will run and not be weary, and walk and not
be faint, and we’ll heed those words and “put on love.”
May
the Lord bless you and keep you, and may He bless this precious country that we
love.
Thank
you all very much. (Applause.)
END
NOTES- Being I purposefully took about a month off from any political/world
comments- I figured I’d make comments here about what’s going on as I write.
I
read a lot of world news- from sources all over the world- you can also find a
lot of ‘READ THIS- TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCES FROM THE COMING CRASH!’ type stuff.
I
am not an alarmist- nor do I make any money at all from any of the ministry
projects I do- this has been a standard of mine for years.
So-
having said that- what is ‘the world’ like right now? [2-15].
The
world is in a very dangerous time- more so then ‘usual’- this week the German
leader- merkel- Warned us that we might be heading to a real war with Russia-
over Ukraine.
Why?
Without
giving all the details- Russia believes that the U.S. is indeed taking actions
to come against them.
Are
they wrong?
The
best I can say- is because of the many political things we do- like trying to
‘look strong’ for a future legacy [Obama] - or not give the Republicans- and
some Democrats- a cause for criticism - Putin might be right.
Now-
in short- Ukraine is one of the breakaway states that formed after the
dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Ukraine
had a legitimate president- who was ‘pro- Russian’.
After
there was unrest in Ukraine- Russia and other world powers agreed to hold an
early election- and if the people wanted to vote the ‘pro- Russian’ out- they
could.
Ok-
sounds good- right?
But-
the people had an uprising- the Ukrainian president fled to Russia- and they
installed a new guy- who was ‘pro U.S. - NATO’.
Now-
in some cases- we- the U.S. would say ‘we will not stand for a coup- and never
recognize a leader who came to power this way’.
But-
in this case- because he is ‘pro- West’ we back him- and then threaten to
support him- with weapons.
Putin
has been saying all along that the U.S. is 2 faced- he’s right.
The
many statements made by Kerry- Biden- etc.- are trying to make it sound like we
are right- standing for justice- it’s just not true.
Putin
has a real concern that if Ukraine joins NATO- which will happen if the U.S.
‘wins’ then it’s a real threat to Russia's security.
So-
in the ‘real world’ our European allies see this- Angela Merkel is warning that
this thing could lead to war- she is saying this week that if the U.S. arms the
Ukrainians- it’s not good.
And
we have hawks in our country who are trying to make this look like Hitler’s
invasion of Poland- Hilary Clinton said as much.
So-
in reality- Putin will never back down- and the whole sanctions thing is
leading down a road to war with Russia.
I’ll
post this after the Romans study is done- in about 3 weeks- let’s see what
happens in 3 weeks- today is 2-10-2015.
UPDATE-
2-16-15- As I hold off on any world commentary while trying to finish the
Romans study- I must say that by the time I post this- things might be very
bad.
As
I’m sitting here at the coffee shop- reading world/national news.
I
fear that my ‘prediction’ about this year being turbulent- is indeed coming to
pass.
From
the Greek ‘bailout’ looking to fall apart- and the new ‘non austerity govt’.
seeming at the verge of leaving the EU-
To
the beheading of the Egyptian hostages by Isis [in Libya- a country falling
apart at the seems- to which the U.S. bears much responsibility for].
To
the Jordanian pilot set on fire in a cage [Isis is threating to do this to the
others they have captive].
The
Isis fighters stood on the shores of Libya- beheading the hostages- and warned
Rome they were next [Rome sits just across the Mediterranean- this act is the
first Isis claimed execution outside of the Syrian/Iraqi region- the ones they
have been posting on-line].
Russia
is not going to back down from their view on Ukraine- despite the fact that the
western alliance just slapped them with more sanctions.
Angela
Merkel [Germany] is very worried that all of this is going to explode- and we
might end up being in a real war- WITH RUSSIA!
As
I read the news today- I fear the average American has no idea what the world
is on the verge of- I hope I’m wrong.
2-17-15-
I guess I will have to post this before I’m done with the Romans study.
There
are so many world events right now- spinning out of control- that I figured it
was time.
Egyptian
planes are bombing ISIS- in retribution [their words] for the beheading of the Coptic
Christians [there is a large Coptic community in Egypt- these were the hostages
ISIS killed].
Jordan
too is on the attack- just a note here- Jordan is run by a ‘king’- Egypt has a
new elected leader- but they too have been involved in atrocities.
So-
some of the nations we work with [Bahrain- Saudi Arabia] are actually oppressive
regimes- run by monarchs.
Meaning-
we actually use the excuse to depose world leaders [Gadhafi- Libya] by saying
we are promoting Democracy around the world.
Yet-
this is a false narrative- because we side at times with leaders- who do not
have the majority support of the people they govern.
Libya
is in decay [that’s where the ISIS fighters beheaded the Egyptians- the Egyptians
are on the border of Libya- North Africa- right off the Mediterranean Sea].
Many
Egyptians travel to Libya for jobs- that’s how ISIS captured them.
But-
in the past you had no ISIS- or other real radical threat in Libya.
But
after we deposed- and backed the killing of Gadhafi- the country has been
split- and the Isis groups have taken areas-
So-
what we are seeing today is in many ways a result of Western involvement in
these nations.
So-
what’s the solution?
I
posted the comments of Bin Laden at the top- because you do see a very real
feeling among Muslims that the West has dealt deceitfully- and has done much
wrong in our actions over many years.
Some
might say we should give no credence to the complaints of terrorists.
The
fact is if the West is trying to ‘win the world’ by using the argument of
morality- that we are for the freedom of people- then we need to hear- and
understand the root causes for the present world instability.
The
world is more unstable now- then in many, many years.
It’s
shocking to hear voices from Italy- Egypt- other parts of the world saying ‘we
need the U.S. to do something’.
There
is a real fear that we are on the verge of great unrest- and I’ not sure if we
can ‘do something’.
But
we should at least try and understand these issues- the U.S. is debating right
now on whether or not to give the President a new authority to fight ISIS [he
has been using the old law that Bush passed to fight Al-Qaida].
Yet-
both sides of the aisle have problems for what he is asking for.
Some
on the right say it isn’t enough [it has a 3 year limit- with no ground
troops].
Others
on the left say it goes too far [has no geographical limits]
So-
there are many problems we are facing in the world- and I think it would help
us if we can look a bit deeper into why so many are up in arms.
I
do not advocate violence at all- nor justify ‘terrorism’- yet for the West to
back up- support- and side with truly oppressive regimes- run by kings- is a
slap in the face to the citizens of these countries- who are longing for freedom
too.
As
I watched the response of one of our generals to a question about ISIS taking a
city in Iraq [we are fighting them with planes- high tech stuff].
He
responded that ‘it’s only one city’.
The
FBI tracks how many new recruits ISIS is making- it’s in the 10’s of thousands-
we can’t keep track.
It’s
amazing to see one of our military men- essentially make an excuse that ‘we’
lost ground.
The
entire ‘war’ going on with ISIS- and there seeming ability to ‘gain ground’-
against the U.S.- these victories are emboldening these young men to join a
movement- that in the face of the whole world- is taking on the U.S.
To
see world leaders ‘begging’ for us to do more [as I write- tomorrow the UN is
holding a special security meeting at Egypt’s request- for ‘the world’ to do
something].
Normally
the U.S. are the ones to do this- but these nations surrounding the area where
ISIS ‘main territory’ is- they are scared- Italy is scared- they see the
establishing of a true Caliphate- and fear that the West- this time- can’t stop
it.
UPDATE-
2-17-15- 3 p.m. - ISIS just burned 45 people to death in Iraq- many of them
believed to be security forces.
They
are PLEADING for us to help them.
Russia
[and the Rebels] just took a key city in Ukraine- 2 days after the so called
cease fire.
Russia
sees this as a struggle against the West and will not back down now- Obama says
he’s ‘thinking’ about arming Ukraine-
If
we do- we are on the verge of a real war with Russia.
I
decided to post this tomorrow- because the world is on the verge of a major
breakdown- both economically and militarily.
PRAY
FOR PEACE.
facebook.com/john.chiarello.5
ccoutreach87.wordpress.com
Note- Do me a favor, those who read/like the posts- re-post
them on other sites as well as the site you read them on. Thanks- John.#
No comments:
Post a Comment