terrorism

Afraid to Bury His Body

Here are excerpts from the story, as reported by Mission Network News:

Juma Nuradin Kamil, a Christian convert from Islam, was kidnapped and found in early September decapitated on the outskirts of Hudur City in southwestern Somalia.

The kidnapping and subsequent murder appear to be the work of al Shabaab militants, based on how it was carried out.

Church leaders confirm that al Shabaab often decapitates Muslims they suspect to have embraced the Christian faith, or those who appear to sympathize with Western ideals.

Based on the terror-linked nature of the attack, area Christians were initially afraid to bury Kamil’s body. They did not want al Shabaab extremists seeing them associated with a newly-discovered convert to Christianity. The body thus lay in the open for two days, until an unknown group reportedly buried him in secret.

It’s a dangerous time for Christians in Somalia who not only face ongoing threats from al Shabaab, but whose own government is against them.

Pray for believers on the underground to continue to stand up boldly for their faith and to continue to proclaim the Truth of Christ, whatever the consequences. Pray for those who mourn the loss of Kamil, that his family and fellow believers might have peace and remain safe.

Death to Osama Bin Laden!

(Yes, I know he’s already dead.)

Osama Bin Laden deserved to die.

So do I. And you. (God handed down those verdicts, not Mark Roth.)

Now, who shall rejoice in your death or mine?

Osama’s death was justice finally served.

True enough, I’m sure.

Now, how soon shall my fully-deserved justice be served on me? And who shall rejoice at it?

As I asked late last night, I ask again to Christ’s disciples: Dare a disciple of Jesus rejoice in the death of an unbeliever?

Let me put it to you another way: A man goes to hell and those with the Redeemer-given “ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18) rejoice?

If that’s the case, those who ought to be “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20) have grown dreadfully and dangerously out-of-sync with God’s heart.

Yes, but what about David?

I don’t understand fully all the God-instructed slaughter carried out by some of His people in the Old Testament.

But I refer you again to Jesus’ statements in places such as Matthew 5:43-45: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies….”

Why are we more committed to something less than that?

I know David waged his wars and wrote his psalms against his enemies.

If I wish to live by that dimension of David’s life, it seems I should also live others such as these:

  • Animal sacrifices for sin
  • Strict Sabbath observances

Well, I really must get to work. I have more to say on this subject, but it will have to wait.

Oh, hang on a bit.

For the record, this isn’t about politics and nationalism. It isn’t about faulting or justifying the United States for taking out Osama Bin Laden.

This is about Christians. And about God’s ways for His people.

Dead: Osama Bin Laden

I wrote this evening to our congregational email list:

I learned this evening that US forces finally succeeded in a years-long mission.

I’m curious how Christians respond.

So far, what I’ve seen isn’t encouraging.

Dare a disciple of Jesus rejoice in the death of an unbeliever?

Can we muster any grief at the thought of what Osama Bin Laden likely learned after his death?

Are we so unable to connect the dots between his death and Christ’s?

So another man for whom Christ died enters eternity, almost certainly Christ-less.

And Christians rejoice and celebrate and cheer?!

How the Father must grieve!

Osama Bin Laden was an enemy of the cross of Christ, of that I am sure.

But was he too great an enemy for Matthew 5:43-45 to apply?

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

I have more to say.

But that’s enough for now.

Jew

It is very difficult to hate babies.

It takes a special person.

[…]

But the human being does have to learn to hate children and babies, and to regard the torture and murder of them as morally desirable acts. It takes years of work to undo normal protective human attitudes toward children.

That is precisely what the Nazis did and what significant parts of the Muslim world have done to the word “Jew.”

[…]

Yet, when Pakistan was yanked from India and established as a Muslim state at the very same time Israel was established, that act engendered 12.5 million Muslim refugees and about a million dead Muslims (and similar numbers of Hindu refugees and deaths). Why then doesn’t “Hindu” equal “Jew” in the Muslim lexicon of hate?

Here are some answers in brief:

You can read the full article here: The Other Tsunami.

Know this, though: Matters will get worse. Much worse. And it will seem even more normal. And nothing by which to get unduly exercised. As has abortion. Which also takes “a special person” to perform, accept, tolerate, and/or ignore.

The Fogel Family
The Fogel Family

Christians, don’t forget this: Americans, Arabs, Hindus, Japanese, Jews — we all need Jesus to the exact same degree.

September 11: Eight Years Ago

The Roth Report
US Terror
Report #1

Tuesday, September 11, 2001
7:30 a.m. Pacific

A phone call a few minutes ago alerted me to turn on my radio.

Not much detail yet, but….

New York City and Washington, DC, have been hit by major terrorist strikes.

Hijacked planes crashed into both World Trade Center towers (around 9:00 am Eastern) and into the Pentagon. Possibly also the State Department.

One of the trade center towers collapsed half an hour or so ago.

No-fly zone established in NYC, at least over Manhattan Island. Air force fighters aloft with shoot-down orders.

Nationwide air travel system shut down.

Too early for casualty counts.

Haven’t heard of claims of responsibility.

I used to produce a daily and/or weekly and/or otherwise email news report: The Roth Report. Here are more of that day’s reporting to my subscriber base: Read it all

Above all, love God!
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