Islam - The World's Fastest Dying Religion - Aug 14

Found this awesome little video for you. Turns out the hyperbole about Islam being the fastest growing religion is a bunch of horse feathers. According to this video:

Africa

On a continent-wide basis, there are converts leaving Islam at a rate of:

667 per hour
16,000 a day and;
6 million annually

• In 1902 there were only one million Catholics in the Dark Continent. In the year 2000, that number has jumped to 330 million.
• Algeria has a growth rate of 10,000 new converts a year.
• Morocco beats that with a growth rate of 45,000 new converts a year.

Elsewhere in the world

• In Kyrgyzstan there are reports of tens of thousands embracing Christ.
• Pakistan had a mere 80,000 Christians in 1947. In 2000 that number has now swelled to six million believers.
• Bangladesh boasts of ten million new believers who have added their name to the Book of Life.

The Decline of Islam

• Cambodia used to have 250,000 Muslims. They now have zero.
• Russia used to have 24,321 mosques in 1927. That number has now dwindled down to 20.

My own personal observations

• All these numbers of new converts are ten years out of date and represent a low-ball conservative estimate. The case of Kyrgyzstan is a prime example of where the true number of converts is unknown.
  
• This doesn't even take into consideration the explosive growth of the church in China. When Christians not only get the attention of the the Communist Party of China but get them concerned and agitated you know something fantastic is happening.
• Islam's time is running out. So is the Church Age - or the 'end of the age' as Jesus mentions in commanding His Great Commission (Mt 28: 16-20).
• The new Leftists - those who wage the cultural jihad against the West and Judeo-Christian values - show themselves to be utterly bankrupt and on the wrong side of history. There will indeed be an 'end to history' but not the way the leftists envision.
  
• God's prophetic word is 100% trustworthy.
  
• The video mentions the explosion of new Catholics in Africa. The number of new converts created by Protestant churches and charismatics (Pentecostal) would also likely be a significant boost to the body of Christ.
• Lastly, I concur with the videos conclusions. This process will advance human rights, nation-building and the rule of law over the cruel dictates of Islam. It will be a glorious victory for mankind.

Johnny Cash

Catholic Humor - Oct 12

I saw this and had to add it to my blog. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Johnny Cash

Warning Signs of an Apostate Church - May 31

Not all churches have gone by the wayside. Sadly, many have - both Catholic and Protestant alike. You can basically boil it down to three main points. First, sound Biblical doctrine is abandoned. Second, the false church will emphasize sensuality and our experience as a means to reach God. Lastly, the move towards ecumenism and a one-world religion. Watch this six-minute video and/or read the points below for yourself.

• Scripture is no longer the golden standard.
• The Gospel of Jesus Christ is being replaced by secular methods promoting church growth and a social gospel.
• Little or no teaching on the Second Advent. An apostate church will rigorously deny the pre-tribulation rapture and the seven years of hell on earth (Daniel's 70th week) that must precede Jesus' triumphal return with his army of saints.
  
• The idea of a literal millennial reign of Christ is similarly rejected.
• Replacement Theology - The idea that the church has replaced Israel and that the Jews, Israel and the city of Jerusalem play no future role in Bible prophecy.
• The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is said to have been fulfilled (Preterism and the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D.) or is to be considered allegorical.
• An experiential and mystical form of Christianity is promoted.
• Seeking present day relevance purely for the sake of relevance is a sure sign of apostasy.
  
• The desire to go back in church history (called 'ancient-future' or 'vintage Christianity') to learn what experiences were effective in attracting new Christians.
• Images and sensual experiences are promoted as keys to knowing God.
• Experiences include icons, candles, incense, liturgy, labyrinths, prayer stations and an overemphasis on sacraments.
  
• An emphasis on ecumenism pointing to unity with the Roman Catholic church.
• Communion is considered more than a symbol and that Jesus becomes present in the wafer and the wine. Do we need to crucify Christ over and over again just so we can share communion? I think not!
• An apostate church will buy into the PC lie that there are many ways to God. See John 14:6 for reference.
• Those who question such activities are reprimanded and asked to leave. Elders are given short thrift.
  

This list is not meant to be exhaustive. I do however consider it to be an excellent guideline. Now if your church lights the occasional candle and doesn't preach about the coming tribulation as often as it should doesn't mean you're in an apostate church. No church is perfect! Consistent study of the Bible in private will remedy any theological shortcomings. If you do notice a significant number of the points mentioned above in your place of worship I'd get out of there as quickly as possible. Why should Satan work hard when the likes of Rick Warren do his dirty work for him? Be vigilant and may you rest in the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Johnny Cash

Contenders, Pretenders and Defenders - Mar 25

Time to change things up. My last post was a little on the heavy side so I'm going easy this time. The title of my post says it all.

Barack Hussein Obama: 2008 Used Car Salesperson of the Year

The man is thoroughly deserving of the title. As I see it, there are two, not three, legitimate contenders for the Oval Office. One is John McCain who is looking more presidential with each passing day and the other is good ol' what's-er-face. Uh, that's Hillary I'm referring to. Obama, despite leading the Dem delegate count, looks more and more like a local used car salesman. And not in a good way either. As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing more manlier than two (or more) guys talking about cars. So I actually like kibbutzing with car salesmen for some strange unfathomable reason. But Obama? No way. I imagine the sales pitch would sound something like this:

BHO: This car can be yours for $12,000!
Me: But the sticker price says $8,995!
BHO: Ah, but you forgot to add the racial aggravation surcharge!
Me: What the (bleep) is a racial aggravation surcharge?
BHO: Well you see my pastor told me that the gov't hands out guns to black people to kill each other. Not to mention HIV which is injected into blacks by the feds. Plus 9/11 was inside job designed to erect a police state against (you guessed it) blacks! Hence the surcharge.
Me: ???? ????
BHO: But of course I was never there when he actually said all that (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). I mean I've only been going to the same church for twenty years so how could I have known my pastor's true feelings?
Me: ???? ????
BHO: So do you want to buy the car?
Me: Screw you. I'm outta here.

So the blacks got screwed by 'The Man'. Well Boo Hoo. They can join the long line of the oppressed right behind the NA Indians, the Jews, Hispanics, the Roman Catholics, Asians and every other racial/ethnic/religious group that faced stiff opposition from the 'powers that be'. Playing the victim card with the American public will get you nowhere. Nor am I apologizing to blacks (or anybody else for that matter) for being white. Not just any white guy, but a pasty white Anglo-Canadian with English roots who votes Conservative. So there.

Who's the Real Defenders of Civil Liberties?

I'll give you a hint: It isn't smarmy and smug liberals. No friends, it has always been God-fearing middle class working Americans (and Canadians too) who are the true defenders of human freedom. Liberal sociopaths who care nothing except for their own political rights and sexual freedoms have never lifted a finger for the defence of liberty. Who's defending Iranian gays from the jihad being waged against them? None other that Robert Spencer. Yes, THAT Robert Spencer, Catholic conservative and director of Jihad Watch. Not one Hollywood liberal with an axe to grind against America and the church will take up the cause. Who's defending Rachel Ehrenfeld, an American being sued by a Saudi billionaire by way of a British court? Not the liberal media save three (NY Post, NY Jewish Week and the SF Chronicle). Can't have successful and empowered women put on a display lest they offend delicate (male) Muslim sensibilities. A direct assault upon our cherished freedoms and the MSM doesn't even blink. It's worse than indifference. It's dereliction of duty. Heck, it's outright cowardice in the face of the enemy.

Craven Dhimmitude: Laura Bush in Saudi Arabia


So please don't talk to me about how good it is that we have all these secular-progressives to (mis)lead us. We do all the heavy lifting while you hog the spotlight? I don't think so. It has always been those individuals raised with strong Judeo-Christian values and ethics that have been the vanguard of freedom. The same cannot be said of our lib-left friends.

Johnny Cash

Delusion and Paranoia - Sep 24

Of course it isn't paranoid if they really are out to get you. Not me personally mind you, it just seems that there's a lot of fear and loathing making the rounds recently. I've been getting a few off the wall comments in the past few days. One I rejected (which I talked about earlier) and two more which I have published. I always get a kick out of these loons who wish to lecture me and show me the error of my ways. One even suggested I get baptised and repent of my sins! It's almost comical I tell ya. I guess that's because I refuse to call Dick Cheney 'Darth Vader' or make Bush out to be evil incarnate. Deeply flawed and foolish Bush is, but W ain't pure evil. Anyways, do keep those comments coming and check back as I might leave a comment to counter yours. Here are three things to remember:

1) All comments left on this blog are considered public domain and is therefore fair game. I can agree, disagree or make fun of your comment as I see fit.

2) Just because I choose to publish your comment (be it silly or thoughtful) does in no way constitute an endorsement of that comment.

3) It's my blog and so I ALWAYS get the last word. So there.

I really do enjoy a good rant. Gives me a sense of accomplishment.

Jimmy Carter has lost it. No wait, let me correct that. He probably never 'had it' to begin with. It's only now are we beginning to see this foolish man for what he truly is. Does he really believe everything the Iranians tell him?

Gotta be tough being Jewish. When the world really is out to get you, I reckon you have every right to be a little bit defensive. Whether it be old enemies such as the Soviets or the Iranians threatening a 600-missile salvo in your direction, it takes guts and moxie to be an Israeli. Here's Israeli FM Tzipi Livni in a protest march in NYC over the multicultural lunacy happening at Columbia University. You go girl!



How New York City should correctly respond to the Iranian president:


Law and Order, Sharia style:


See the original link here.

Here's something that got my attention recently. World Qods Day falls on October 12th, which is the last Friday of Ramadan. The Iranians have promised a 'surprise' for the West. I'm guessing it won't be a pleasant one. I have to admit I'm intrigued by this. That big kidder Mahmoud could be blowing smoke here. Or not. Either way, Iran definitely carries the capability of doing something incredibly destructive and foolish. Is this the Gog and Magog invasion of Ezekiel 38 and 39? Hard to tell. I'm not in the business of making grand prophetic announcements so I'll sit tight and watch that date carefully.

Here's some good news to close out this post. Women in India are spreading the good news in a nearby market, Pope Benedict XVI stands up for religious liberty and Dave Barry shows us how he keeps his cool (barely) when the lights go out.

Johnny Cash

The Long Goodbye - May 10

There is nothing more annoying to me than some dopey politician who wants to turn their departure from public service into a major Hollywood picture. The latest is Britain's Tony Blair, who, after ten years of being PM has today announced his final plans to leave 10 Downing St.. Seven years ought to be the max for any leader of a nation. Look at Jean Chretien, an arrogant man who brought us Adscam and stagnation to the Canadian political scene. As the old saying goes, 'Don't go away mad, just go away!'.

Conveniently lost in all this hubbub on the British news front is the fact that the costs for the national ID card that no-one wants is spiralling upward. Wow, where have I seen that one before? How about the gun registry here in Canada or the escalating costs of the Iraqi war? When has a gov't sponsored initiative ever been close to budget and on time? Never. This is a boondoggle and a white elephant, just like the Mirabel airport was during the Trudeau years. This national ID card thingy will not increase security for the average British citizen one bit. What it does enable is 'mark of the beast' technology and the rise of one world government.

The ultimate long goodbye is reserved for those poor American troops stationed in Iraq. What Bush is doing is not 'staying the course', it is blind stubborness. Actually the Bush doctrine smacks of fanaticism: The redoubling of effort when the aim has been lost. What needs to be done is not the status quo, but a genuine re-evaluation of the situation on the ground in Iraq. Not appeasement and surrender. Not 'We'll stay 'til the job is done' which is meaningless and deliberately vague. Instead, real and honest assessments about Iraq, including benchmarks for success and a viable exit strategy. I'm partial to the idea of declaring victory and getting out, provided Iraq isn't handed over to the Iranians on a silver platter. Also, here's a cool link from livescience.com on the Top 10 Battles that have shaped this ancient blood-soaked land.

Pope Benedict XVI is in Brazil to throw cold water on 'liberation theology', a bad mix of Marxism and Bible stories that leave everyone confused. Benny is still adamant on that whole 'life begins at conception' thing, which is good. Being pro-life is very un-PC these days. As long as the Pope stays away from the beaches and the beautiful women that linger there he'll do just fine!

As I was reading this article between the growing divide between Christians and the unchurched I started thinking, 'Do we really listen to what the unchurched have to say about us?'. I'm quite sure we don't. Here's what I think: I think we tend to run churches the same way we run our businesses. It's like we're selling something and are obsessed with putting more and more bums in the pews rather than genuine revival. We are here to occupy until Jesus comes and we are to give the world our testimony. We are to be salt and light, just as Christ taught us. Faith is not superstition and it isn't fanaticism (see explanation above). Faith is standing on the promises of God and sharing that with others. Faith is reason taken to the nth degree. People are attracted to the idea of hope, love for others, and being steadfast in a shaky world. People need to hear the message of forgiveness and reconciliation with God that only Christ can bring. When we emulate Christ, then the unchurched will come. Act like a used car salesman and they'll be driven away. Which path will the global church take?

Johnny Cash

Consumed By Trivia - May 5

Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(Matthew 24:44,50,51)

One of the greatest signs of the Lord's return has to be the current feeling of apathy. To be sure there is a tremendous amount of activity going on, just that none of it is terribly important. A case in point is the recent brouhaha over Team Canada captain Shane Doan. Shane made an un-PC remark about French Canadians some time ago. Here are the facts:

1) The slur was an alleged one and has never been proven under oath.
2) This happened TWO YEARS AGO!!
3) This was a private conversation between Doan and Phoenix Coyotes goalie Curtis Joseph. What was said on the ice ought to stay on the ice.
4) Shane Doan has NO history of anti-French slurs in his NHL career or hateful remarks towards any other racial/ethnic group for that matter.

Bob Nicholson had to fly from Moscow to Ottawa in order to testify on Shane Doan's behalf. Perhaps our MPs are bored and/or underemployed. Everything in Canada must be tickety-boo in order to free up the time needed to stab a player in the back whilst playing overseas. People are asking, 'Is there not bigger fish for them to fry?'. Transfixed by the trivial and oblivious to the obvious is what all four parties are up to. Canadians at large are not amused.

Are we at war or what? Listening to the major media outlets you'd think nothing extraordinary was happening. Western civilization is the only one that passionately defends the cause of the enemy. When you look at history, empires and civilizations fell into ruin when its citizens lost their will to defend it. From slavery to awakening, awakening to revolution, revolution to success, success to complacency, complacency to apathy and the apathy leads us back to slavery. You can argue whatever you like, but we are on a definite negative trend.

Imagine if General Rick Hillier was put on trial for war crimes. What effect would it have on the morale of Canadian troops? If I'm not going to shed tears over a WW II German SS officer in Russian custody, why should I weep over Taliban terrorists getting their just desserts from the locals? It is rough justice, yes, but it is justice. The likes of the Taliban offered no mercy to us, and we are not obligated to offer it to them. We need not apologize for it either.

I have some English news to report as well. As you may know, Prince Harry is headed to Iraq with his unit, The Blues and Royals. If Prince Andrew saw it fit to serve in the Falklands, then Harry should go with his unit. Many are concerned over the Prince's safety and rightfully so. However there are a few points to consider:

1) The Blues and Royals are an armored reconnaisance unit. While the use of IED's will be on everyone's minds the likelihood of being a fatality within an armored unit is actually quite slim.

2) The Needle in the Haystack: Even if the terrorists find out where the Blues and Royals are there's no guarantee that Harry will be with them. It would have to take an intelligience leak or phenomenonally bad luck in order for Harry to become a casualty.

3) If you're wearing the uniform, you're a target. Actually, this works in Harry's favor. If nothing else, the Iraqi insurgents have shown that it's all about targets of opportunity rather than specific units or individuals. Even if Harry is killed there's no reason to believe that the Brits are going to surrender en masse. Battles still have to be fought and attrition must be waged, a point that the insurgents concede.

The U.S. and the EU have decided to form a single market. What this really means is that all the regulation, red tape and bureaucracy will be thoroughly examined to see where the problems lie. The Americans and the Europeans have been working together for a long time, well before the formation of the EU and W's presidency. The only calculus that's altered here is the speed at which these changes will now take place. Keep in mind that we're dealing with a decade-long process here, not something that's going to get done in a few months. Nevertheless, it is a tremendously important development.

Whenever I see anti-Semitism raise it's ugly head there is always reason for worry. Along with anti-Christian sentiment, anti-Semitism and the rise of the Big Lie is the 'canary in the coal mine' regarding the rising tide of nationalism and fascism. Terror attacks were actually on the rise in 2006, a 25% increase. As I see it, there are two main reasons why anti-Semitism is still prevalent:

1) Ignorance of History: In the West, Europe in particular, there seems to be a divorce from twentieth century history and now. Either people don't know, or they do know but don't care, or they know and have learned all the wrong lessons. It's not good, any way you slice it.

2) Ignorance of the Bible: Anti-Semitism would be dead on arrival if people knew what God's Word had to say about the Jews, Israel and Jerusalem. I believe the key is for teenagers and young people to re-discover the teachings of Jesus Christ. The only innoculation against this garbage is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the young people of Europe and America. It's either that or Armaggeddon. Let us choose wisely.

Well, that's it for this post. Only took me three days to pop it off! I've added the 'Prophecy of the Popes' to my links list. Do check it out. According to St. Malachy's prophecy, the current pontiff is the second-to-last pope before 'Peter the Roman'. Try Googling 'Glory of the Olives' and see what you come up with. The answer may surprise you.

GO SENS GO
Ottawa has just defeated New Jersey 3-2 in Game 5 to win the series 4-1. They face either the Buffalo Sabres or the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference finals.

Johnny Cash

Search And Destroy - Apr 30

Here is Acts 9:1-5 :

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied.

My friend, this passage is still relevant today. There are many Saul of Tarsus' out there. When I look at these liberals, the shoe seems to fit awfully well. Within the Left establishment, it's all about proving your bona fides, your own 'street cred' if you will. How does one do this? By bad-mouthing and slandering any combination of America, Israel, the church, Christians, Jesus, the Bible and God in general. Basically, you cannot prove you belong to the church of militant secular-progressive humanism until you've persecuted Jesus Christ at length. Take Rosie O'Donnell, a hard-core disciple of the MSPH church. Isn't it enough for her that the battle over gay marriage is all but won? No, of course not. All dissent must be crushed. It's not enough to win the court battles, the enemies of the MSPH church must be humiliated as well. Consider too the case of Roman Catholic Poland as the EU is basically gang-raping the Poles over their insistence of 'one-man-one-woman-for-life' stance on marriage. It is the old story of 'repaying evil with evil', a Biblical no-no. It appears history does repeat itself and Christians are once more in the establishment's crosshairs.

One of the multi-billion dollar false churches that is in vogue today is led by High Priest Al Gore. I'm obviously referring to that whole global warming thing. It has to be believed, indeed it MUST be believed that human activity is the sole reason for the strange weather phenomena. Any scientist who dare suggests that increased solar activity is the main culprit runs the risk of ruining their careers. I found this bit of information in the article rather enlightening:

Dr Sami Solanki of the Institute for Astronomy in Zurich studies solar activity. His findings are as follows: "Looking at the past 1,150 years the Sun has never been as active as it has been during the past 60 years.

Now consider this: Israel just recently celebrated its 59th anniversary. And the sun just so happened to increase it's activity at roughly the exact same time! A coincidence maybe? I don't think so. One thing that can be agreed on is that God is still in full control.

Here's another thing that bothers me about this leftist hard-on for the environment. Does the whole green movement strike you as having neo-Marxist origins and blatant anti-American tendencies? Portraying Bush's America as the black-hatted villian seems to be the primary reason driving environmental activism. Why is the West vilified for its modern industry and countries like China (the world's second biggest polluter) given the kid glove treatment? I smell a rat here. There's a hidden political agenda at work and it does not bode well for what's left of Western civilization.

I've got a whole bunch of links that I'd love to share with you. As it's a wee bit late I'm going to fire them off in rapid succession.

Did you ever wonder where the ingredients for the food that you feed your family come from? After reading this article you may not want to.

Big Brother is listening! The demand for encrypting cell-phone conversations in Italy due to recent phone-taps is causing jitters. How long before this becomes a global demand?

Islam is bad for women and is the main reason for failure in Iraq.

The Canadian Anti-Christ (aka Justin Trudeau) has just won his nomination in the Montreal riding of Papineau. The kid knows how to pull 'em in, I'll give him that.

Earthquakes in Divers Places Dep't: There's been an unlikely 4.3 magnitude earthquake in Folkestone, England. Many buildings (whom I suspect were not built with California standards) have been permanently damaged.

To close, know that religion is good for your kids and ministering the Gospel as a family as this couple in India has discovered is even better.

Johnny Cash

Fools Rush In Where Angels Dare To Tread - Apr 1

The picture below was taken at the Vatican by a British tourist. Of course, this doesn't prove anything nor am I attempting to be clever. I just thought it was a cool pic.

Speaking of fools, this new brouhaha over those captured British sailors is escalating. Keep in mind that this is a calculated ploy. The Iranians believe (correctly) that it's too risky to try and kidnap American troops so they captured British troops at sea instead. This is been a long time coming as the Iranians desire a showdown with the West. So as the U.S. Navy gathers strength in the Persian Gulf (Is it an exercise? Or a prelude to war?), we must realize that the Mutually Assured Destruction (or MAD) doctrine that was in place with the Russians during the Cold War simply doesn't work with Iran. If Iran's mad mullahs were to order an attack on Israel they would have no moral quandry in sacrificing tens of millions of innocent Iranians to achieve their demonic dream of a Jew-free Middle East. Yes, it is THAT insane! So long as Islam is advanced and Islam's enemies (America and Israel) are seen in a bad light is how 'victory' is determined.

Meanwhile, the dhimmification of Europe continues as it is now very un-PC to even mention the word jihad. Well, if they can't say it then I will: Jihad, jihad, jihad. Ahhh, that feels so much better! And by jihad I'm not referring to inner spiritual struggle either. On the other side of the pond, American lawmakers are fighting dhimmification to defend American citizens from malicious prosecution. You may remember the case of the Six Flying Imams who conspired to raise all sorts of hell in Minneapolis as they boarded a US Airways flight. Organizations like CAIR are notorious for using litigation to intimidate their opponents or anyone who has a critical word to say. Free speech under attack? You bet.

Allright, five more links and then we're done. This is without doubt the most important week of the year for Jews and Christians world-wide. As the Jews celebrate Passover, Christians celebrate Palm Sunday this weekend as Jesus Christ made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, in accordance to Daniel's prophecy of 'Seventy-Sevens' found in chapter nine.

I love the Pope. He's a no-nonsense, back to basics kind of guy. As much as JP II was loved and admired, I think the guy tolerated far too much. Benedict XVI on the other hand is a different story which is good for the Catholic church and the church as a whole. Benny recently proclaimed that the fires of Hell were both real and eternal. Wow. Just how un-PC is that! I believe in the doctrine of Hell too, not because of what some 80 year-old German theologian said but because of what Jesus Himself said. Go back and read some of the NT gospels. Not even once did Jesus contradict the doctrine of Hell as being both real and eternal. So what does that tell you?

As a news hound and a history aficionado, it disheartens me greatly when we fail to learn from our mistakes. Take Iraq for example. In 1920, learned people who underood Iraq knew there was going to be trouble when the British were there. Read these quotes and see what I mean.

Should it surprise you that slavery has never really disappeared? Except now it's called 'human trafficking'. A case here in Canada was over Portuguese immigrants who came here illegally to work here is an example that comes to mind. What happens to one of these workers when they get injured? How are labor laws supposed to protect them then? How can they report to the Ministry of Labor when unsafe conditions exist in the workplace? Workers who come here illegally are completely at the mercy of a tyrannical and unethical employer who don't care a whit if their illegals get hurt. I think that there's a special place in hell for those that exploit the vulnerable, especially women.

My last link goes to Gospel for Asia. See this slide show that proves God's faithfulness to new Christians in India.

Many thanks to Faith Girl for forwarding her links to me. You may have noticed I've added a new header in my sidebar that show FG's favorite links. Please do visit them as I believe they are quite useful. I've also added Israeli Weapons to my short list. I've subtracted Sacred Scoop because his blog is no longer current. CottShop, you will be missed. I've done away with Inshallah Shaheed, a Muslim blogger who isn't deserving of any kind of publicity, be it negative or positive. And thanks to Douglas who tagged me with a 'Thinking Man's Blogger Award'. I have no clue what that entails exactly but I'm 100% sure that it is a compliment.

Johnny Cash

Government Favoritism In Our Schools - Mar 30

True, high school is still 3 years away for my eldest daughter, but as a mom I want to be prepared. Most of her friends will graduate grade 8 and start grade 9 in a huge (and poorly rated) secular high school. They'll be taught the theory of evolution as fact. They'll be taught how to put a condom on, how to protect yourself from STDs, how having a homosexual relationship is okay and even acceptable forms of birth control. As a matter of fact, those kids will be taught every form of birth control with one exception: Abstinence. Apparently it's unrealistic. Young Christian teens will have to wade through all kinds of unbelievers in hopes of finding someone to date who loves the Lord like they do. This is why secular school is NOT an option for me.

Catholic School. There's one close by. I can only assume they will not be exposed to so much in their Health classes, and it is paid for by the government..... but we aren't Roman Catholic. I called the school and was amazed to learn that not all the students were Catholic. Turns out they didn't need to be. "Great!" I thought as I hung up the phone, "Kind of defeats the purpose of Catholic school." Since the government decided to give the Catholic school board public funding, their numbers have gone up dramatically. Parents with troubled teens seem to think that 'A good Catholic school will straighten them out.' Okay, so now Catholic school is out too.

Homeschooling? Well I'll be honest, that's about as far as that idea went.

Last choice: Christian school. I called the principal. Nice guy who loves God and teaches abstinence as the only acceptable form of birth control. The school was full of Christian kids, Christian teachers and a Christian principal. It offered a good group of kids for my girls to interact with. I hung up the phone and smiled to myself. "At last, a choice I could live with." That was until I looked up the fees on the internet. Long story short, I'm looking at around $12, 000.00 a year to send my daughter to a Christian high school.

Here's my beef: Why are Catholic schools paid for by the government and not Christian ones? Are they really so different? Where does the issue of equality fit into all this? My taxes go to the two schools that don't represent my beliefs, and then I have to pay to a third school (Christian) on top of all the taxes in order to find one that does.

I guess the irony of it all is that if the government DID pay for the Christian high school, it wouldn't be full of exclusively Christian kids. It would be very much like the Catholic schools have become.

I can only assume that this is yet another example of government favoritism.

Chinese-Vatican Relations Warming - Jan 19

I've got a real keeper for you here. The church is growing by leaps and bounds in China, to the tune of 3,000 souls coming to faith in Christ every day! As I read this, I began to laugh. Imagine, the big bad Chinese are all of a sudden worried about what an 80 year-old German pope thinks! My mind boggles. Pope Benedict XVI and the Vatican has no real power if you think about it. It is God alone who wields the ultimate power over Chinese geopolitics. Three thousand new Christians in China added every day. Man I tell you, if I were a Chinese Communist official I'd be worried too.

Johnny Cash

Geopolitical Diary: Chinese-Vatican Relations Warming
Jan 19, 2007

Pope Benedict XVI has approved the ordination of a new bishop in China's Guangdong province, Hong Kong daily the South China Morning Post reported Thursday. Diplomatic relations between China and the Vatican have been especially strained since the Chinese failed to seek Vatican approval when appointing three bishops in 2006. China now appears to be adopting a more cooperative stance toward the Vatican -- with an eye toward thwarting any aggressive moves by the church, in the event that a pending economic crisis gives rise to domestic unrest that Beijing could find unmanageable.

Diplomatic relations between China and the Vatican were severed in 1951, two years after an officially atheist Communist government took control of China. Since then, the Church and the communists have conflicted over who has the ultimate power to appoint bishops. The Vatican asserts that only the pope can officially name bishops to be recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. However, the Chinese government uses its Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, the state-sanctioned church, to oversee bishop appointments.

The Vatican was particularly displeased over the appointments of three bishops in 2006 in the cities of Kunming, Anhui and Xuzhou. The disagreement has divided Chinese Roman Catholics -- one group supports the Vatican, and another supports the Chinese government.

The approval of the new bishop, Gan Junqiu of Guangzhou, comes at an interesting time. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican's No. 2 official, plans to meet with bishops representing Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau at the Holy See starting Jan. 19 to discuss relations with China. The Vatican has been forced to develop policies that deal with illegitimate appointments without creating divisions within the diocese or Roman Catholic community, which in China has grown to as many as 12 million, according to the Vatican. The Catholic leadership believes that 8 million of these members have not registered with the state-sanctioned church, since official government statistics report only 4 million Roman Catholics in China.

Yet China recognizes the potential strength of the Vatican as a geopolitical force. Pope John Paul II was often credited with helping to bring down the Soviets during the Cold War by using faith and the church to mobilize citizens across Europe. Pope Benedict XVI is even more aggressive when protecting Roman Catholic values, and expects reciprocity for misdeeds against the church. For example, in the controversial speech that addressed violence and Islam, he demonstrated a willingness to speak out openly for the beliefs and morals of the church. Pope Benedict's more head-on approach to addressing issues of concern for the church, coupled with his stated priority of addressing relations with Beijing, has given the Chinese incentive to mend relations with the Vatican, given its positive historical results when dealing with dissent.

China ultimately is concerned with maintaining social stability in an environment of growing social and economic unrest. Beijing is averse to the idea of conceding power to the Vatican, and opposes the idea that the pope will become the ultimate authority for Chinese Roman Catholics. But because of the inevitable media attention that China's hosting of the 2008 Olympics will bring, the Chinese are willing to compromise -- they know that drawing worldwide media attention to rifts in the Chinese Roman Catholic community ultimately would have more dire implications for the Communist Party and potentially could exacerbate social unrest.

With the Vatican's proven power to mobilize citizens, as well as the growing number of Roman Catholics in China, the Chinese recognize that cooperating with the Vatican will help to prevent future internal disorder. And China's willingness to cooperate is yet another indication that Beijing is making preparations for an impending economic crisis. By working with the Vatican, Beijing hopes to weave another safety net to help contain fallout from an economic crisis and prevent widespread domestic unrest.

Copyright 2007 Strategic Forecasting Inc. All rights reserved.

Anticipation - Dec 24

Below is a child in Nativity Square in Bethlehem, Israel. Photo is from the Jerusalem Post.


I may be stepping on thin ice here but it's hard to get excited over something that happened two thousand years ago. Being a Christian is not about dusting off some old history books and mindlessly chatting about the 'good times' from ages long past. As a child, I thought as a child and wondered what Santa would bring me Christmas morning. Then I grew up and put away such childish things. I'm anticipating what Jesus Christ is going to do both right now and in the near future. Look at the following verse:

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:22-23)

Christianity is about anticipating what is to come! What a glorious message to bring to this troubled world!

Yes friends, this big old world of ours is in serious doo-doo. When Gaza Christians can't celebrate Midnight Mass and children are taught that Santa ain't comin' because it's too dangerous you know we have a problem.

Christmas is such a special time for the little ones. My two year old nephew is going to have a blast tomorrow. Many children however do not share the same happy fate. Pope Benedict XVI continues the traditon set by John Paul II in addressing the faithful on Christmas day. The Pope's theme this year was on those children who are suffering this holiday season.

Got some other stuff to share to show that all is not peace on earth and goodwill towards men.

It appears that Ethiopian troops have launched a massive counter-attack against the Somali Islamists, including air strikes. I doubt the Horn of Africa will be a happy place anytime soon.

The Iranians continue their mastery of denial and projecting their sins towards others. Their target of choice? A nuclear-armed Israel of course. Those darn Jews! The last time they threatened anybody with annihilation was .... Um ..... still thinking .... NEVER! What a bunch of putzes.

If there's one thing I cannot stand is people who take themselves far too seriously. Moroccan authorities have clamped down on a Arabic weekly called 'Nichane' for being oh-so un-Islamic. Freedom of press and freedom of speech? Not if you live in Morocco my friend.

Merry Christmas, Infidel! Threats are being made by British Muslims originating from Pakistan to attack the 'Chunnel'. What a nice and sensible immigration policy Tony Blair and New Labour has forged in allowing these fifth column jihadis to settle in the U.K.. For further reference, go to DizzyFatPlonka's blog to see the PC mess that Mr. Blair has created.

Merry Christmas to everyone, to DFP, to Belinda, to CottShop (of Sacred Scoop), to Faith Girl and to all of you who have taken the time to read my humble little blog.

Johnny Cash