In about 36 hours, I and 9 other individuals will depart on a trip to a place codenamed "Montebello". We are embarking on this trip because God told us to go. Check out Matthew 28: 18-20. It's all there and in some cases, it's written in red ink.
It has dawned on me, on more than one occassion, that I may not make it back alive from "Montebello". And just as one other member of our team made clear what he would like his legacy to be, I too would like to impart a legacy of sorts, just in case.
First off, thank you God, Almighty Father. Thank you for allowing me to have this awesome personal relationship with You. Thank you for revealing yourself to me in all your majesty and glory. I have only the deepest of gratitude for the gift that is your Son. Thank you for picking me up when I fall, for dusting me off and setting me onto your path when I stray and for strengthening me even as I struggle with my sinful ways. Father in heaven, I am your servant. Use me in ways that only you know how. And most of all, thank you for your love. A love without comparison, a love without condition and a love without end. I am not worthy but with this love, you have washed me clean. And to this my Lord, my God, my Savior, my knees bow and my tongue confess, you are the Most Holy, Eternal God, the King of Kings, the Lover of my Soul. Only to you is all the glory I can muster. Only to you, is all my worship. Praise you O God! Father with complete trust in your protection and complete dependence on your mercy I go joyfully into the breach to bring your glorious name to the ends of this earth.
Second, my beloved husband, K. Many of you know him as Qoheleth. K, you are my gift from God. You have, with God's love, erased all the pain and sorrow of my first 30 years here on earth. You have replaced rejection with acceptance, eased a broken heart, mended a battered body and nurtured a shattered spirit. You have loved beyond doubt and forgiven without hesitation and I will carry that with me through the rest of my days. I love you from the depths of my soul and though I have every intention of coming back to you, should God have other plans, I will meet you again in heaven. My beloved, my mentor, my discipler, and my best friend, thank you for the best years of my life. My only hope is that I can honestly claim that my greatest accomplishment in this life is that I make you happy. That would make my life worthwhile.
PS: Keep Cujo out of Mom's clutches. Please! I don't think I can handle coming home and being greeted by a 1 ton ball of fur.
Third, my family. To my Mom and Dad who're just as stubborn as I am. Thank you for never giving up and throwing the towel on this bratty kid. Even as I defied and disobeyed, argued and lied, you were always there. Thank you for the foundation of faith that you instilled in all of us. It is the same foundation I used to build this relationship I have with God. I love you both so very much. Hey bro! You're the best! Keep shopping around for your fantasy reception hall. You'll know when you find the right one. Just make sure the gal you're going to have the reception with is the right one too. Keep it real bro. Mom's counting on you for that grandchild of hers so she can lay off my dog. Keep the other bro out of trouble too while you're at it.
Next to all my friends. I don't even know where to start. To the three fairy godmothers, keep the Bachelor in check, and keep the wedding simple. Last I heard the guest list was around 70 and he hasn't even popped the question yet. To my 75 brand new girlfriends specially to Ems, Vels, 'Net, Jo, Cez, and Jenna. Ladies, it has been a real pleasure to get reconnected. Ems, I have that BIG HUG waiting for you whether it's in '08 or in heaven, it's waiting. Vels, same with the phone card, I miss you too girlfriend. 'Net, who'd have thunk we'd click huh. Word of advise, keep the boytoy, he's a keeper. Jo, always remember that God is cradling your spirit in His arms, hold on to that truth. Cez, I love you sis, I am so glad that you and I will have all the time in eternity together. And Jenna, my teacher, my mentor, accountability partner and dearest friend. I couldn't have done any of this had God not crossed our paths again. You have been and always be a heroine in my life. Your faith, your strength and your passion for Christ knows no bounds and I thank you for showing me that. God bless all of you and keep you.
A special mention to our "Small Group". Ladies and gents, you have been my refuge every other Sunday of the month. Through all the craziness of a busy life, through all our goofiness and even through all the different difficulties and tragedies that has befallen us being with y'all (yes I said y'all) gives me strength, hope, peace and joy to go on and continue to serve. "And whenever two or more are gathered in His name, there is love..." and that's why I love y'all. And oh yeah, "The Bus" loves y'all too.
And last to my church. K and I stumbled through your doors 4 1/2 years ago and we've never stumbled out. Finally, a place to call home.
Father, as we boldly go forth into that part of the world that we jokingly refer to as "Montebello", I pray that you will guide our thoughts and our words and protect our hearts and our bodies from sin and harm. I pray that you embolden us and give us every opportunity to witness on behalf of You and Your Son. I pray that those we leave behind find peace and comfort in the knowledge that we are in Your hands. And I pray that those we meet will come to know the joy and the love that only You can offer. I pray all these in the name of your beloved Son and our saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Throwing The Gauntlet: It's Time For America To Wake-up And Take A Stand
This is probably going to be my last post, for a while at least, so as in many things, when faced with a task that is probably one of the last you need to accomplish, you make it count. So here goes. But first, a warning: This post has very strong language, so for the pacifist or the easily offended, take heed. I will be taking names and there will be a body count.
In the last few weeks, I've come across several news articles and life stories about George W. Bush, American-Christians (yes the hyphen is deliberate), Muslims, Islam and tolerance, Musharraf of Pakistan, The Pope, Hugo Chavez and the U.N., a certain “whack job” in Iran, my father and of course, where there's “W” there are the Dems and their respective “talking heads” aka Pelosi, anyone of the Kennedy clan, Billy the ex-prez, and a number of media mainstays from Greta to Katie and who can forget Rosie and her rant.
George W. Bush is in the limelight again. This time around he was thrust there by Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez. By now, everyone has either heard of, or read, Mr. Chavez's speech in front of the United Nations' General Assembly. But just in case current events are not your forte, here is an excerpt directed at George W. Bush.
(In reference to a book written by self-described anarchist Avram Noam Chomsky) “I think that the first people who should read this book are our brothers and sisters in the United States, because their threat is in their own house. The devil is right at home. The devil -- the devil, himself, is right in the house.
And the devil came here yesterday. (Laughter and applause.)
Yesterday, the devil came here. Right here. Right here. And it smells of sulfur still today, this table that I am now standing in front of.
Yesterday, ladies and gentlemen, from this rostrum, the president of the United States, the gentleman to whom I refer as the devil, came here, talking as if he owned the world. Truly. As the owner of the world.”
There are so many retorts and one-liners I could think of as a response to Mr. Chavez' remarks. The most immediate, and most juvenile, is “It takes one to know one.” Others include, “How dare you?”, “He did not say that, did he?”, and if I were affiliated with organized crime “I know where you live you filthy-mouthed retard.” and so on. As a Christian, I can definitely say that the devil (the real one) made him do it, for Mr. Chavez is, after all, one of his minions.
Yes I know, do not judge others lest you be judged yourself and I agree. But, that specific passage applies to judging one's heart. After all aren't we commanded as well to judge. We can quibble about appearances later, but for purposes of judging Mr. Chavez' heart, the only thing I can say is this man's outburst condemned his heart.
And may I say, what a coward! I dare Mr. Chavez to say those things without the protection of the U.N. General Assembly. Am I the only person who appreciates the irony of all this? Mr. Chavez' vicious remarks were aimed at the leader of the country which has so graciously welcomed him. Mr. Chavez, not only insulted said leader but its people and yet, he was able to leave the country unmolested and unharmed with no more than a little “there, there, let's play nice” from the Rev. Jesse Jackson. I hope Mr. Chavez understands that had he made his vitriolic speech elsewhere, he would have had to carry his head in a separate sack lest they detach it from his body without his consent. Maybe, we should sic “Dog the Bounty Hunter” after him. After Dog's potential jail sentence I mean.
And, what about the Dems jumping on the bandwagon to DEFEND “W”? You've called him worst in your inner sanctums. You've ridiculed the man, attacked him and members of his administration, fabricated all kinds of sleaze against him and his advisors, all in an effort to bring shame and degradation to his office which, in case you've all forgotten, is the face of this country. And now that an outsider dares to defile and insult “W” and the American people, y'all stand up in arms? You hypocrites!
I wonder if the Dems have really seen the error of their ways. I can't help but think that this defense of "W" is just a political ploy to distance themselves from what Chavez had said. After all, this socialist, whacked-out, space cadet goofball quoted directly from their playbook. For crying out loud, the man endorsed Chomsky, a self-described political activist, nay, anarchist from MIT. Geez, need I say more.
And am I the only one who noticed how fast Schumer, Pelosi, Jackson, and their like back-pedalled from their own criticisms of "W"? And yet, on the other hand, they have no qualms associating with the likes of Chavez. Take Charlie Rangel of New York. He couldn't denouce and condemn this self-righteous infidel fast enough and yet, he has no problems forming alliances with him.
Following is an excerpt written by AP reporter Ian James on September 22, 2006:
"Rangel called the heating oil program very effective and said he expects that next year his district will be getting an even larger amount of oil.
"But you don't come into my country, you don't come into my congressional district and you don't condemn my president," Rangel said"
Shame on you Mr. Rangel!
Listen y'all, I'm not saying don't disagree with Chavez, after all that would be prohibiting freedom of speech, but disagree with the man honorably. Don't spout rhetoric in fear of losing votes or for the sake of holding on to your elected post. In case y'all have forgotten, an elected position in office is a temporary job, with term limits. It is not a lifetime appointment. Good God, with friends and associates like these, we're not going to have much need for enemies.
Which leads me to my next point. Do you know that a large percentage of the world's population recognize the United States as the land of opportunity? Citizens of countries like Rwanda, India, Indonesia, Cuba, Red China, North Korea and so on, who have stared true oppression in the face, dream of coming to this land to make a better life for themselves. They understand that despite our flaws our form of government works for the benefit of its citizens. Our form of government allows for prosperity, freedom to express ideas and freedom of worship. Things they will never have in the countries that I've mentioned, unless they belong to the right party or the upper class strata.
If this is the case, ever wonder then why the world hates America and its citizens? It's because the hatred comes from within. In the last 40 years, we've seen a growing group of American-bashers all living within our borders and all the rest of the world has done is follow suit. Can you say ACLU?
Let's get one thing straight. Communism never has and never will spawn true freedom. Just ask all them Russians, Chinese, Cubans and everyone else who dared buck the communist system, see what they say. Oh, my bad, they can't say much of anything cause they're pretty much all dead or imprisoned and forgotten. Just look at what the ACLU and it's henchmen are doing. In an effort to separate church and state, they are hard at work outlawing God in our public facilities.
The first amendment states:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
It does not say anything about taking religion out of our school systems and government buildings. The first amendment prevents a state-imposed worship, not the individual practice of a particular religion.
Again, I wonder if the people at the ACLU truly understand what they're working against. With everything that they've done or trying to do, they seem to have infringed and/or prohibited our free exercise thereof. Oh wait, again my bad, I forgot that only applies to us radical Christians who are out to spread God's love and His word. It sure doesn't hold true for the jihadist out there who claims lives in the name of their deity.
And then there are those who are interested in nothing more that their own private agendas. Interest and advocacy groups, corporate raiders, Muslim extremist, the liberal church, postmodern thought and so forth and so on. All have one thing in common, the demise of the patriotic American-Christian man.
As for those of us who purport to be patriotic, what have we done to stem these attacks on our culture, our beliefs and our very rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! Outside of some grassroots movements here and there, the majority of us have sat back, in the name of freedom, and done nothing. We have sunk into the quagmire of mediocrity and complacency, thinking that somebody else will pick up the baton and run with it.
Newsflash: There is no baton. If we love this country and its people as we proclaim in rhetoric, it is our personal, individual responsibility to stand up and do something about it. This is not a call to arms but it is a call to reason. Let us defend our rights from people living within our borders who so passionately hate everything that is right and moral and good about this country. Let's not wait for a fascist dictator to malign our great nation or its leaders. Let's not sit back and wait for the fight to come to our backyards.
There is nothing more disquieting than reading about brothers and sisters in Christ who are giving up the fight because their issues, the ones that bring them to the polls and vote, are not being handled by the government fast enough. Although it's good to get involved in the democratic process, let us not rely on government to affect the changes we would like to see done. After all, government is still fallible and there is always room for error. Let us instead affect change on our own, by stepping outside our comfort zones and reaching one person at a time through God's word. It is not enough to stand on the sidelines and say “I love Jesus” or “I love you man”. Let's embed the word of God into our hearts and our minds and bring the good news of His son and the saving grace that God gave and affect change that way. Let's plant the seeds in obedience to God's commands and watch God do all the nurturing.
I would rather be ridiculed and laughed at while giving my testimony than find myself in a situation where I'm about to loose my head because I kept silent. My preference will always be to depart from this earth and enter the Kingdom as painlessly as possible, however, if God has other plans for me, then His will be done. As Paul, says “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 2:21). Either way, I've got my one-way ticket to heaven.
I am not asking for jihad, like some religious groups do. What I am asking for is let's all take up our yoke and make a difference so that we won't have to worry about jihads, call to jihads, Rosie O'Donnell, Ahmadinejab and his sidekick Hugo Chavez, Bin Laden and anyone and everyone who wants to see us brought to our knees.
Next, we've seen or heard of various reports of the threats against the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church by a bunch of guys whose towels have been tied up in a bunch lately. Talk about irony. All the Pope did was to read something from this ancient historical document from the 14th century and everyone involved with the worship of Allah is calling for his head (Hugo Chavez should probably make a note of that the next time he decides to speak off script).
Even Musharraf, testicularly-challenged individual that he is, jumps on the bandwagon and talks about how we threatened them back to the stone age if they don't give us their full cooperation. Last I looked, they were still in the stone age. Philosophically and infrastructurally. And here lies the dilemma of the entire Western world. All this talk about tolerance and forbearance, diplomacy and such are all good, except we're all talking to people on the other side of the world who do not understand the true meaning of tolerance, forbearance and oh yes, democracy. Because they, the Islamic world, have not progressed much from the stone age and they have no clear example of tolerance, forbearance and diplomacy in their daily way of life. What with all this jihad stuff going around.
Some argue that our responsibility is to teach them and bring them out of the Dark Ages. My reply: Teaching is futile if the other side refuses to learn. They have, in so many ways, made it very clear that they're not interested in co-existence. What they are interested in is complete assimilation. For all you movie addicts, think “The Borg” from Star Trek, The Next Generation or better yet, “The Necromongers” from The Chronicles of Riddick.
Here's a brief description as given in the movie: "They are an army unlike any other... crusading across the stars toward a place called UnderVerse, their promised land - a constellation of dark new worlds. Necromongers, they're called. And if they cannot convert you, they will kill you. Leading them, the Lord Marshal. He alone has made a pilgrimage to the gates of the UnderVerse...” Sounds familiar?
Last but not least, to those, like my father, who've decided to renew the citizenship of their birth country, and still hang on to their American citizenship, I posit this question. Why in hades would you do such a thing?
In the entire course of human history, there has never, ever been an instance of anyone serving two masters successfully. Citizenship demands loyalty and responsibility so how can one be loyal and responsible to both? In the event of conflict between this two countries where would that loyalty lie?
Let me clarify what I mean. I was born not in the United States. But twenty some years ago, I was brought to this country by the same parents who also thought it was in my best interest to apply for and obtain an American citizenship LEGALLY!
So in 1988, I trotted down to the Convention Center, took my oath and renounced the citizenship of my birth country and became an American. That does not mean that I've turned my back on the culture of my birth country. I still eat the strange foods, speak the language, acknowledge the important historical dates, and most importantly, I am proud of my heritage but I am, first and foremost, an American.
And it was by choice. No one put a gun to my head and forced me to wave the star-spangled banner or put my right hand over my heart as I recited the pledge of allegiance. Therefore, since citizenship has its privileges, I have the privilege of exercising my rights as an American, pay taxes as an American, and live by the laws of this land I now call home and profess my faith to an almighty God as an American and it is my duty to defend this country.
So, if needed, I will die for this great country and everything that it stands for. The good, the bad and even the ugly. Because in the end, when all is said and done, I am an American-Christian and it's time for all who share my beliefs to wake-up and take a stand for all that we believe to be noble and good and true.
In the last few weeks, I've come across several news articles and life stories about George W. Bush, American-Christians (yes the hyphen is deliberate), Muslims, Islam and tolerance, Musharraf of Pakistan, The Pope, Hugo Chavez and the U.N., a certain “whack job” in Iran, my father and of course, where there's “W” there are the Dems and their respective “talking heads” aka Pelosi, anyone of the Kennedy clan, Billy the ex-prez, and a number of media mainstays from Greta to Katie and who can forget Rosie and her rant.
George W. Bush is in the limelight again. This time around he was thrust there by Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez. By now, everyone has either heard of, or read, Mr. Chavez's speech in front of the United Nations' General Assembly. But just in case current events are not your forte, here is an excerpt directed at George W. Bush.
(In reference to a book written by self-described anarchist Avram Noam Chomsky) “I think that the first people who should read this book are our brothers and sisters in the United States, because their threat is in their own house. The devil is right at home. The devil -- the devil, himself, is right in the house.
And the devil came here yesterday. (Laughter and applause.)
Yesterday, the devil came here. Right here. Right here. And it smells of sulfur still today, this table that I am now standing in front of.
Yesterday, ladies and gentlemen, from this rostrum, the president of the United States, the gentleman to whom I refer as the devil, came here, talking as if he owned the world. Truly. As the owner of the world.”
There are so many retorts and one-liners I could think of as a response to Mr. Chavez' remarks. The most immediate, and most juvenile, is “It takes one to know one.” Others include, “How dare you?”, “He did not say that, did he?”, and if I were affiliated with organized crime “I know where you live you filthy-mouthed retard.” and so on. As a Christian, I can definitely say that the devil (the real one) made him do it, for Mr. Chavez is, after all, one of his minions.
Yes I know, do not judge others lest you be judged yourself and I agree. But, that specific passage applies to judging one's heart. After all aren't we commanded as well to judge. We can quibble about appearances later, but for purposes of judging Mr. Chavez' heart, the only thing I can say is this man's outburst condemned his heart.
And may I say, what a coward! I dare Mr. Chavez to say those things without the protection of the U.N. General Assembly. Am I the only person who appreciates the irony of all this? Mr. Chavez' vicious remarks were aimed at the leader of the country which has so graciously welcomed him. Mr. Chavez, not only insulted said leader but its people and yet, he was able to leave the country unmolested and unharmed with no more than a little “there, there, let's play nice” from the Rev. Jesse Jackson. I hope Mr. Chavez understands that had he made his vitriolic speech elsewhere, he would have had to carry his head in a separate sack lest they detach it from his body without his consent. Maybe, we should sic “Dog the Bounty Hunter” after him. After Dog's potential jail sentence I mean.
And, what about the Dems jumping on the bandwagon to DEFEND “W”? You've called him worst in your inner sanctums. You've ridiculed the man, attacked him and members of his administration, fabricated all kinds of sleaze against him and his advisors, all in an effort to bring shame and degradation to his office which, in case you've all forgotten, is the face of this country. And now that an outsider dares to defile and insult “W” and the American people, y'all stand up in arms? You hypocrites!
I wonder if the Dems have really seen the error of their ways. I can't help but think that this defense of "W" is just a political ploy to distance themselves from what Chavez had said. After all, this socialist, whacked-out, space cadet goofball quoted directly from their playbook. For crying out loud, the man endorsed Chomsky, a self-described political activist, nay, anarchist from MIT. Geez, need I say more.
And am I the only one who noticed how fast Schumer, Pelosi, Jackson, and their like back-pedalled from their own criticisms of "W"? And yet, on the other hand, they have no qualms associating with the likes of Chavez. Take Charlie Rangel of New York. He couldn't denouce and condemn this self-righteous infidel fast enough and yet, he has no problems forming alliances with him.
Following is an excerpt written by AP reporter Ian James on September 22, 2006:
"Rangel called the heating oil program very effective and said he expects that next year his district will be getting an even larger amount of oil.
"But you don't come into my country, you don't come into my congressional district and you don't condemn my president," Rangel said"
Shame on you Mr. Rangel!
Listen y'all, I'm not saying don't disagree with Chavez, after all that would be prohibiting freedom of speech, but disagree with the man honorably. Don't spout rhetoric in fear of losing votes or for the sake of holding on to your elected post. In case y'all have forgotten, an elected position in office is a temporary job, with term limits. It is not a lifetime appointment. Good God, with friends and associates like these, we're not going to have much need for enemies.
Which leads me to my next point. Do you know that a large percentage of the world's population recognize the United States as the land of opportunity? Citizens of countries like Rwanda, India, Indonesia, Cuba, Red China, North Korea and so on, who have stared true oppression in the face, dream of coming to this land to make a better life for themselves. They understand that despite our flaws our form of government works for the benefit of its citizens. Our form of government allows for prosperity, freedom to express ideas and freedom of worship. Things they will never have in the countries that I've mentioned, unless they belong to the right party or the upper class strata.
If this is the case, ever wonder then why the world hates America and its citizens? It's because the hatred comes from within. In the last 40 years, we've seen a growing group of American-bashers all living within our borders and all the rest of the world has done is follow suit. Can you say ACLU?
Let's get one thing straight. Communism never has and never will spawn true freedom. Just ask all them Russians, Chinese, Cubans and everyone else who dared buck the communist system, see what they say. Oh, my bad, they can't say much of anything cause they're pretty much all dead or imprisoned and forgotten. Just look at what the ACLU and it's henchmen are doing. In an effort to separate church and state, they are hard at work outlawing God in our public facilities.
The first amendment states:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
It does not say anything about taking religion out of our school systems and government buildings. The first amendment prevents a state-imposed worship, not the individual practice of a particular religion.
Again, I wonder if the people at the ACLU truly understand what they're working against. With everything that they've done or trying to do, they seem to have infringed and/or prohibited our free exercise thereof. Oh wait, again my bad, I forgot that only applies to us radical Christians who are out to spread God's love and His word. It sure doesn't hold true for the jihadist out there who claims lives in the name of their deity.
And then there are those who are interested in nothing more that their own private agendas. Interest and advocacy groups, corporate raiders, Muslim extremist, the liberal church, postmodern thought and so forth and so on. All have one thing in common, the demise of the patriotic American-Christian man.
As for those of us who purport to be patriotic, what have we done to stem these attacks on our culture, our beliefs and our very rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! Outside of some grassroots movements here and there, the majority of us have sat back, in the name of freedom, and done nothing. We have sunk into the quagmire of mediocrity and complacency, thinking that somebody else will pick up the baton and run with it.
Newsflash: There is no baton. If we love this country and its people as we proclaim in rhetoric, it is our personal, individual responsibility to stand up and do something about it. This is not a call to arms but it is a call to reason. Let us defend our rights from people living within our borders who so passionately hate everything that is right and moral and good about this country. Let's not wait for a fascist dictator to malign our great nation or its leaders. Let's not sit back and wait for the fight to come to our backyards.
There is nothing more disquieting than reading about brothers and sisters in Christ who are giving up the fight because their issues, the ones that bring them to the polls and vote, are not being handled by the government fast enough. Although it's good to get involved in the democratic process, let us not rely on government to affect the changes we would like to see done. After all, government is still fallible and there is always room for error. Let us instead affect change on our own, by stepping outside our comfort zones and reaching one person at a time through God's word. It is not enough to stand on the sidelines and say “I love Jesus” or “I love you man”. Let's embed the word of God into our hearts and our minds and bring the good news of His son and the saving grace that God gave and affect change that way. Let's plant the seeds in obedience to God's commands and watch God do all the nurturing.
I would rather be ridiculed and laughed at while giving my testimony than find myself in a situation where I'm about to loose my head because I kept silent. My preference will always be to depart from this earth and enter the Kingdom as painlessly as possible, however, if God has other plans for me, then His will be done. As Paul, says “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 2:21). Either way, I've got my one-way ticket to heaven.
I am not asking for jihad, like some religious groups do. What I am asking for is let's all take up our yoke and make a difference so that we won't have to worry about jihads, call to jihads, Rosie O'Donnell, Ahmadinejab and his sidekick Hugo Chavez, Bin Laden and anyone and everyone who wants to see us brought to our knees.
Next, we've seen or heard of various reports of the threats against the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church by a bunch of guys whose towels have been tied up in a bunch lately. Talk about irony. All the Pope did was to read something from this ancient historical document from the 14th century and everyone involved with the worship of Allah is calling for his head (Hugo Chavez should probably make a note of that the next time he decides to speak off script).
Even Musharraf, testicularly-challenged individual that he is, jumps on the bandwagon and talks about how we threatened them back to the stone age if they don't give us their full cooperation. Last I looked, they were still in the stone age. Philosophically and infrastructurally. And here lies the dilemma of the entire Western world. All this talk about tolerance and forbearance, diplomacy and such are all good, except we're all talking to people on the other side of the world who do not understand the true meaning of tolerance, forbearance and oh yes, democracy. Because they, the Islamic world, have not progressed much from the stone age and they have no clear example of tolerance, forbearance and diplomacy in their daily way of life. What with all this jihad stuff going around.
Some argue that our responsibility is to teach them and bring them out of the Dark Ages. My reply: Teaching is futile if the other side refuses to learn. They have, in so many ways, made it very clear that they're not interested in co-existence. What they are interested in is complete assimilation. For all you movie addicts, think “The Borg” from Star Trek, The Next Generation or better yet, “The Necromongers” from The Chronicles of Riddick.
Here's a brief description as given in the movie: "They are an army unlike any other... crusading across the stars toward a place called UnderVerse, their promised land - a constellation of dark new worlds. Necromongers, they're called. And if they cannot convert you, they will kill you. Leading them, the Lord Marshal. He alone has made a pilgrimage to the gates of the UnderVerse...” Sounds familiar?
Last but not least, to those, like my father, who've decided to renew the citizenship of their birth country, and still hang on to their American citizenship, I posit this question. Why in hades would you do such a thing?
In the entire course of human history, there has never, ever been an instance of anyone serving two masters successfully. Citizenship demands loyalty and responsibility so how can one be loyal and responsible to both? In the event of conflict between this two countries where would that loyalty lie?
Let me clarify what I mean. I was born not in the United States. But twenty some years ago, I was brought to this country by the same parents who also thought it was in my best interest to apply for and obtain an American citizenship LEGALLY!
So in 1988, I trotted down to the Convention Center, took my oath and renounced the citizenship of my birth country and became an American. That does not mean that I've turned my back on the culture of my birth country. I still eat the strange foods, speak the language, acknowledge the important historical dates, and most importantly, I am proud of my heritage but I am, first and foremost, an American.
And it was by choice. No one put a gun to my head and forced me to wave the star-spangled banner or put my right hand over my heart as I recited the pledge of allegiance. Therefore, since citizenship has its privileges, I have the privilege of exercising my rights as an American, pay taxes as an American, and live by the laws of this land I now call home and profess my faith to an almighty God as an American and it is my duty to defend this country.
So, if needed, I will die for this great country and everything that it stands for. The good, the bad and even the ugly. Because in the end, when all is said and done, I am an American-Christian and it's time for all who share my beliefs to wake-up and take a stand for all that we believe to be noble and good and true.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
But Radical Christianity Is More Threatening Than Radical Islam
A few days ago Rosie O'Donnell on the television show "The View", had the audacity to say that "...radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam...." Ms. O'Donnell's outburst spurred a corresponding outcry from the hallowed halls of conservative blogs, fellow Christians and theologians across this great nation. Despite her malicious and venomous stance against Christians, I agree with Ms. O'Donnell, that radical Christianity is more threatening than radical Islam, although I doubt that she and I see eye to eye as to why that is so.
Consider this. During the first century A.D., in the center of the Roman Empire, a group of people were so thoroughly feared and consequently persecuted to the point that they were made into sport and fed to a group of ravenous beasts amidst the cheers of onlookers in the Coliseum.
This group, regardless of age or race, was so feared by the Romans and other denizens of those days not because they regularly impaled themselves against the spear or the sword shouting "Allah Akbar". Nor did they regularly disrupt the peace by their violent demonstrations and illegal protests against the empire. They certainly did not drag catapults around and ram them against Roman temples and palaces in the hopes of collapsing them to kill as many "infidels" as they could in the process.
This group of people were feared because they dared to bow their heads and bend their knees to worship the one true God. In a time and age where the Caesars where considered gods, they dared to publicly denounce these rulers as no more than mere men, subject to God's rule, knowing full well the penalty for such an act. They made a mockery of every temple and every palace built to worship the deity of the day by gathering together in fellowship and worship in someone's humble abode. They made laughingstocks of the different priests, servants and temple prostitutes with the their unwavering faith and obedience to the one true God. And they accomplished all that without shedding other people's blood but their own.
This group of people, headed by ordinary men and women with names like Paul, Peter, John, Apollos, Priscilla, Aquila and Barnabas, traveled throughout the Roman Empire and carried with them the extraordinary good news of a God who loved this world so much that He gave his only begotten Son to die for our salvation. They brought with them the teachings of a God who became man so He may show us the meaning of true and everlasting love. This group of people where considered radicals because of how they loved their friends AND their enemies and their unwavering love and devotion to Christ.
Radical Christians are they not?
Before we go any further, let me make one thing very clear, men and women such as these who first and foremost loves God and are out in the world spreading God's word and His wisdom in a truly loving fashion are not to be confused with the abortion-clinic bombers, gay bashers, hate-mongers, Klan members, or neo-Nazi freedom fighters who proclaim "Glory to God," as they wreak havoc and violence with their actions. They are no more Christians than they are anarchist and they are to be denounced and brought to justice like any other law-breaking individual intent on doing harm.
On the other end, those who proclaim "Glory to God" as they look down on their brothers and sisters and cop the attitude of "I'm holier than you and you're not getting into heaven, neener, neener" legalist may classify themselves as Christians but they are nowhere near radical. They personify the demeanor which existed among the Pharisees and the Sadducees of Christ's day and they, more than anything, effectively illustrate how Christian witness can be turned onto its head "in the name of God" of course.
Today's radical Christians, as with all the others who have preceded before them, hold true to most (if not all) of the following tenets:
"First, that Christianity is objectively true and that the Bible is God's written word to mankind.
Second, because Christianity is true it speaks to all of life and not to some narrowly religious sphere.
Third, in the area of our relationship with God, true spirituality is seen in lives which by grace are free to be fully human rather than in trying to live on some higher spiritual plane or in some grey negative way.
And fourth, the reality of the fall is taken seriously. Until Christ returns we and the world we live in will be affected by the disfigurement of sin." (courtesy of L'Abri Fellowship, www.labri.org)
And finally, because we are fallen, and our nature sinful, God sent His only Son to die on the cross to save us; "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) There is absolutely NOTHING we can do to earn our way into God's kingdom. It has all been done for us.
As radical Christians, we have no mantras nor chants to abide by. We have no need to instill hatred in our young for the chosen people of God. We are not required to subdue and dominate are women and children. We do not cry out for assimilation into a religion bent on conquering the world. We do not call for tolerance on one hand and crush those who dare raise an objection to our beliefs on the other. And most importantly, we are not dependent on the whims and fancies of a willful god and his prophet whose teachings have been skewered to suit a cause rooted in dominance and hatred. We are not required to sacrifice our lives and limbs and take out as many of the enemy with us so that maybe, just maybe, we can earn ourselves a seat on the flight to the garden of Allah and have some 70 young virgins attend to our every needs.
As radical Christians, our beliefs can be summed up in "The Apostles' Creed" the text of which follow, and our way of life is dictated by God's manuscript - The Bible.
We live fully human lives under the grace of an ever-loving God. We are not perfect but as long as there is sincere repentance in our hearts and we come for forgiveness, an always forgiving God guaranteed our place in heaven. And as long as we are obedient to His will, we are able to affect change not by the sword, but by the truth of His word.
We are loving, tolerant, obedient, charitable and generous, not because of some oblique promise of the good life in some obscure garden, but because we are commanded by the God we serve. We are righteous in our anger against evil and the ungodly, and firm in our opposition of injustice not because of some cause we do not fully comprehend, but because we uphold truth and we are perpetrators of justice.
Consider this. During the first century A.D., in the center of the Roman Empire, a group of people were so thoroughly feared and consequently persecuted to the point that they were made into sport and fed to a group of ravenous beasts amidst the cheers of onlookers in the Coliseum.
This group, regardless of age or race, was so feared by the Romans and other denizens of those days not because they regularly impaled themselves against the spear or the sword shouting "Allah Akbar". Nor did they regularly disrupt the peace by their violent demonstrations and illegal protests against the empire. They certainly did not drag catapults around and ram them against Roman temples and palaces in the hopes of collapsing them to kill as many "infidels" as they could in the process.
This group of people were feared because they dared to bow their heads and bend their knees to worship the one true God. In a time and age where the Caesars where considered gods, they dared to publicly denounce these rulers as no more than mere men, subject to God's rule, knowing full well the penalty for such an act. They made a mockery of every temple and every palace built to worship the deity of the day by gathering together in fellowship and worship in someone's humble abode. They made laughingstocks of the different priests, servants and temple prostitutes with the their unwavering faith and obedience to the one true God. And they accomplished all that without shedding other people's blood but their own.
This group of people, headed by ordinary men and women with names like Paul, Peter, John, Apollos, Priscilla, Aquila and Barnabas, traveled throughout the Roman Empire and carried with them the extraordinary good news of a God who loved this world so much that He gave his only begotten Son to die for our salvation. They brought with them the teachings of a God who became man so He may show us the meaning of true and everlasting love. This group of people where considered radicals because of how they loved their friends AND their enemies and their unwavering love and devotion to Christ.
Radical Christians are they not?
Before we go any further, let me make one thing very clear, men and women such as these who first and foremost loves God and are out in the world spreading God's word and His wisdom in a truly loving fashion are not to be confused with the abortion-clinic bombers, gay bashers, hate-mongers, Klan members, or neo-Nazi freedom fighters who proclaim "Glory to God," as they wreak havoc and violence with their actions. They are no more Christians than they are anarchist and they are to be denounced and brought to justice like any other law-breaking individual intent on doing harm.
On the other end, those who proclaim "Glory to God" as they look down on their brothers and sisters and cop the attitude of "I'm holier than you and you're not getting into heaven, neener, neener" legalist may classify themselves as Christians but they are nowhere near radical. They personify the demeanor which existed among the Pharisees and the Sadducees of Christ's day and they, more than anything, effectively illustrate how Christian witness can be turned onto its head "in the name of God" of course.
Today's radical Christians, as with all the others who have preceded before them, hold true to most (if not all) of the following tenets:
"First, that Christianity is objectively true and that the Bible is God's written word to mankind.
Second, because Christianity is true it speaks to all of life and not to some narrowly religious sphere.
Third, in the area of our relationship with God, true spirituality is seen in lives which by grace are free to be fully human rather than in trying to live on some higher spiritual plane or in some grey negative way.
And fourth, the reality of the fall is taken seriously. Until Christ returns we and the world we live in will be affected by the disfigurement of sin." (courtesy of L'Abri Fellowship, www.labri.org)
And finally, because we are fallen, and our nature sinful, God sent His only Son to die on the cross to save us; "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) There is absolutely NOTHING we can do to earn our way into God's kingdom. It has all been done for us.
As radical Christians, we have no mantras nor chants to abide by. We have no need to instill hatred in our young for the chosen people of God. We are not required to subdue and dominate are women and children. We do not cry out for assimilation into a religion bent on conquering the world. We do not call for tolerance on one hand and crush those who dare raise an objection to our beliefs on the other. And most importantly, we are not dependent on the whims and fancies of a willful god and his prophet whose teachings have been skewered to suit a cause rooted in dominance and hatred. We are not required to sacrifice our lives and limbs and take out as many of the enemy with us so that maybe, just maybe, we can earn ourselves a seat on the flight to the garden of Allah and have some 70 young virgins attend to our every needs.
As radical Christians, our beliefs can be summed up in "The Apostles' Creed" the text of which follow, and our way of life is dictated by God's manuscript - The Bible.
We live fully human lives under the grace of an ever-loving God. We are not perfect but as long as there is sincere repentance in our hearts and we come for forgiveness, an always forgiving God guaranteed our place in heaven. And as long as we are obedient to His will, we are able to affect change not by the sword, but by the truth of His word.
We are loving, tolerant, obedient, charitable and generous, not because of some oblique promise of the good life in some obscure garden, but because we are commanded by the God we serve. We are righteous in our anger against evil and the ungodly, and firm in our opposition of injustice not because of some cause we do not fully comprehend, but because we uphold truth and we are perpetrators of justice.
We are vigilant in protecting those who are weak and constantly in prayer to God for we recognize that our strength and our compassion can only come from Him. Our faith demands complete submission and unwavering obedience to an omnipotent God.
As radical Christians, we have a far harder road to travel and yet we journey joyfully, fully trusting that the Lord will carry us through. We have no need for weapons or doctrines of hate, for we are equipped with God's armor and in a world committed to sin, nothing is more threatening or frightening than the love of the Lord Jesus Christ as conveyed through and by His radical Christian disciples.
The Apostle's Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy *catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body
and life everlasting
*The word "catholic" refers not to the Roman Catholic Church, but to the universal church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Monday, September 11, 2006
9/11/2001 - Do Not Ever Forget!
With all the different news mediums and blogs devoted to commemorating the events of today, I vowed to stay away from the subject that is the 5th year anniversary of 9/11. What else can I say that has not been said? What other "angle" can I cover? After much thought and prayer, it dawned on me that NOT talking about 9/11 is more a disservice to those who died and/or suffered because of the events of that day.
I recently read the text of the 9/11 commission report and as the events unfolded in a minute-by-minute fashion, I felt, again, the deluge of emotions that accompanied the first time I heard of the attacks five years ago. I poured over the list of the names of all who perished in the different hijacked flights and at the Pentagon, and I wondered if, five years later, I would find a familiar name which would bring the events closer to home. These tragic events has no room in God's perfect world. But since we live not in that perfect world, we have to deal with them and their aftermath.
Therefore, for the 2,996 souls who perished, let us not dishonor their sacrifice by remembering the facts as they happened. Five years is not a long time and most of us who are alive now have first hand experience and/or eyewitness of these events. Let us not allow the historical revisionist and the conspiracy theorist to promulgate their distortions of these events. Let us hold true to all we have read and witnessed in the days and months that followed. Let us continue to keep their memories alive for they are innocent of any wrong-doing. Let their deaths not be in vain.
For our men and women in uniform, let us keep them in prayer. The aftermath of 9/11 gave birth to our "War on Terror" and they are on the frontlines carrying out the enviable duty of protecting our country and its citizens. I understand the need for tolerance and diplomacy, not just in international affairs, but in our everyday life. However, 9/11 was a direct attack of the American people on American soil. The need for diplomacy quickly passed as soon as Flight 11 was hijacked and the first American blood was spilled. As much as I am a proponent of peace, I firmly believe in our right to defend and protect ourselves from people and groups who are bent on annihilating us simply because they are intolerant of our beliefs. Let us not give in to the jihadis who carried out these heinous and reprehensible acts for they are not interested in a peaceful co-existence. Let us stand firm in defending our beliefs and our freedoms.
And lastly, let us not forget that we are Americans, and we owe our allegiance and loyalty to the flag of this great country. Let us not be shamed or beaten to submission by the murderers who caused this tragedy and their cohorts. As citizens of this great country, we have a responsibility to uphold the very foundations of our way of life, and that responsibility can only be carried out by an unfailing and uncompromising commitment.
Each year, let us look at these events of this day with fresh eyes and experience anew our sense of outrage, horror, grief and patriotism and use all of that to strengthen our spirit and reaffirm our resolve in establishing America as the greatest democratic country of this age.
I recently read the text of the 9/11 commission report and as the events unfolded in a minute-by-minute fashion, I felt, again, the deluge of emotions that accompanied the first time I heard of the attacks five years ago. I poured over the list of the names of all who perished in the different hijacked flights and at the Pentagon, and I wondered if, five years later, I would find a familiar name which would bring the events closer to home. These tragic events has no room in God's perfect world. But since we live not in that perfect world, we have to deal with them and their aftermath.
Therefore, for the 2,996 souls who perished, let us not dishonor their sacrifice by remembering the facts as they happened. Five years is not a long time and most of us who are alive now have first hand experience and/or eyewitness of these events. Let us not allow the historical revisionist and the conspiracy theorist to promulgate their distortions of these events. Let us hold true to all we have read and witnessed in the days and months that followed. Let us continue to keep their memories alive for they are innocent of any wrong-doing. Let their deaths not be in vain.
For our men and women in uniform, let us keep them in prayer. The aftermath of 9/11 gave birth to our "War on Terror" and they are on the frontlines carrying out the enviable duty of protecting our country and its citizens. I understand the need for tolerance and diplomacy, not just in international affairs, but in our everyday life. However, 9/11 was a direct attack of the American people on American soil. The need for diplomacy quickly passed as soon as Flight 11 was hijacked and the first American blood was spilled. As much as I am a proponent of peace, I firmly believe in our right to defend and protect ourselves from people and groups who are bent on annihilating us simply because they are intolerant of our beliefs. Let us not give in to the jihadis who carried out these heinous and reprehensible acts for they are not interested in a peaceful co-existence. Let us stand firm in defending our beliefs and our freedoms.
And lastly, let us not forget that we are Americans, and we owe our allegiance and loyalty to the flag of this great country. Let us not be shamed or beaten to submission by the murderers who caused this tragedy and their cohorts. As citizens of this great country, we have a responsibility to uphold the very foundations of our way of life, and that responsibility can only be carried out by an unfailing and uncompromising commitment.
Each year, let us look at these events of this day with fresh eyes and experience anew our sense of outrage, horror, grief and patriotism and use all of that to strengthen our spirit and reaffirm our resolve in establishing America as the greatest democratic country of this age.
Friday, September 01, 2006
When Rubber Meets The Road
A dear, dear sister in Christ experienced a great tragedy this week. It is the kind of tragedy that, in the natural scheme of things, is not supposed to happen. No one should be faced with the trauma of burying their young.
We heard of the news on Monday. Within a matter of seconds, my beloved husband and I ran the gamut of emotions from shock to disbelief to horror to grief. Our hearts breaking and awashed in tears we held each other and prayed to God for strength and comfort and joy and peace and love and hope and servitude to our sister and her family in this time of need.
The next few days were very hard because instinctively, I wanted to give and give and give of whatever they needed to ease their grief and their pain. And what they really needed was family time alone to rally together and support one another. Everytime I stopped and thought of her, and other mothers like her who have lost their young, my heart would break all over again. I could not begin to imagine the depth nor the scope of such pain. I cannot comprehend how to get back to "normal" after such a loss.
Where do you start picking up the pieces? How do you stay strong when her gut-wrenching sobs echo amidst the walls of the mortuary where a memorial service was held? Where do you go to find peace? When will the pain stop? Will it ever stop? What could've been done differently to change the course of events? And the ever present Why God? Why? And God answered.
With the author's permission, following is a reprint of an email many of us received this morning.
In the Lords prayer Jesus uses the word “Us” Give “Us” this day…and forgive “Us” …lead “Us” …, but deliver “Us” from all evil. We are to pray for each other, we are to lift each other during the good and sad times. Lets us continue to keep each other in our hearts, minds and prayers.
I read and re-read this email and dropped to my knees in gratitude to the Lord and His amazing grace and love for all of "US". In the midst of all the pain my comfort and my peace came from my dearest sister in Christ who was suffering the deepest. I finally understood that when it comes time for the proverbial rubber to hit the road, in whatever difficulty or tragedy we find ourselves in, God truly provides the answer and it is our faith in Him, that allows us to transcend our difficulties and our tragedies in life.
God is limitless in His authority over all things He created. He knows our beginning and He knows our end and He orchestrates the in-between. Whether we follow the conductor or go our own way, He, our Lord God Almighty, is in control. And as long as we are willing to submit to God's will for our lives, He will use us in the most spectacular of ways. And whether we find the end of our road at 20 or at 120, it is His grace, His strength, His comfort, His generosity and His love that will carry us through.
To my dearest sister, I grieve for your lost and I am in awe of your heart. I thank God for the privilege of knowing you and being called a friend by you. Before this last week, I have known of only one other person who is Christ-like in his forgiveness. It is very humbling and awe-inspiring to know that God has allowed me to know of one other. I love you my sister and thank you for being an example of faith and hope and peace and love.
We heard of the news on Monday. Within a matter of seconds, my beloved husband and I ran the gamut of emotions from shock to disbelief to horror to grief. Our hearts breaking and awashed in tears we held each other and prayed to God for strength and comfort and joy and peace and love and hope and servitude to our sister and her family in this time of need.
The next few days were very hard because instinctively, I wanted to give and give and give of whatever they needed to ease their grief and their pain. And what they really needed was family time alone to rally together and support one another. Everytime I stopped and thought of her, and other mothers like her who have lost their young, my heart would break all over again. I could not begin to imagine the depth nor the scope of such pain. I cannot comprehend how to get back to "normal" after such a loss.
Where do you start picking up the pieces? How do you stay strong when her gut-wrenching sobs echo amidst the walls of the mortuary where a memorial service was held? Where do you go to find peace? When will the pain stop? Will it ever stop? What could've been done differently to change the course of events? And the ever present Why God? Why? And God answered.
With the author's permission, following is a reprint of an email many of us received this morning.
It is said that God does not give you anything you can’t handle, but I do believe that there is another part to this scripture- that should read- for only He knows just how many saints are lifting you up in prayer. On Sunday ... My First Born, My Big Girl, My perfect gift from God was taken to be with the Lord. No one should feel what I felt that night, no one should hurt this unfathomable hurt, but most importantly no one should go through this Alone. On the last day of August I was in a chapel and as I grieved I could hear the sound of a crowd growing behind me and right out side the chapel doors. It was the sound of all those saints that had said “you are in my thoughts and in my prayers” Thank you dear saints for your prayers, thank you for the lasting memories that you all have given me ...
I read and re-read this email and dropped to my knees in gratitude to the Lord and His amazing grace and love for all of "US". In the midst of all the pain my comfort and my peace came from my dearest sister in Christ who was suffering the deepest. I finally understood that when it comes time for the proverbial rubber to hit the road, in whatever difficulty or tragedy we find ourselves in, God truly provides the answer and it is our faith in Him, that allows us to transcend our difficulties and our tragedies in life.
God is limitless in His authority over all things He created. He knows our beginning and He knows our end and He orchestrates the in-between. Whether we follow the conductor or go our own way, He, our Lord God Almighty, is in control. And as long as we are willing to submit to God's will for our lives, He will use us in the most spectacular of ways. And whether we find the end of our road at 20 or at 120, it is His grace, His strength, His comfort, His generosity and His love that will carry us through.
To my dearest sister, I grieve for your lost and I am in awe of your heart. I thank God for the privilege of knowing you and being called a friend by you. Before this last week, I have known of only one other person who is Christ-like in his forgiveness. It is very humbling and awe-inspiring to know that God has allowed me to know of one other. I love you my sister and thank you for being an example of faith and hope and peace and love.
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