OK, Mark, Be Honest

Do I do this to some people?

Story after story that had to be retracted, revised, corrected, rewritten, or just plain buried had originally been wrong in the same way: in the way that tarnished that president. They never erred in a way that benefitted him or cast him in a better light, but only in portraying him and his actions in the worst possible way.

I bristle when I think I’m being treated this way.

But I know from personal experience just how easily I assume the worst about certain people.

🙁

Fatah, Hamas, and Baptists

Mission Network News:

Christians in Gaza are asking believers around the world to pray for them. Palestinian Authority (PA) police of the Fatah party have seized the six-story Gaza Baptist Church building.

President of Open Doors USA Carl Moeller says, “They’ve taken it over as a military out-post in their gun battle with the Hamas. This situation is just terribly tragic because for so many Christians that remain in Gaza, this was their only bright light. This was their hope.”

Defining a Sad Story

Is this what makes the story sad?!

“It’s a kid that could have made millions of dollars and been a success that is in a grave right now,” Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden, whose staff recruited Dean, said in a telephone interview. “It’s a sad story.”

Or is this next piece the sad part?

Dean then toiled in football’s minor leagues, fathered six children and, according to Oklahoma City Police Sgt. Paco Balderrama, was arrested 13 times since 1990 and had contact with the police on 51 occasions.

Then there this:

“At least he’s not struggling like us anymore,” said Newton, who attended the party. “He’s gone home. He ain’t suffering no more.”

What a sad culmination to a life with so much waste — a life that Jesus died to redeem.

If he didn’t accept that redemption, the home he went to has more suffering than he ever experienced here.

If he did accept that redemption, he appeared before his Creator washed clean by the blood of the Lamb.

DHS Misled Congress?

Government admits lying about jailed border agents:

A Department of Homeland Security official admitted today the agency misled Congress when it contended it possessed investigative reports proving Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean confessed guilt and declared they “wanted to shoot some Mexicans” prior to the incident that led to their imprisonment.

[…]

This prompted a startled and angry response from the congressman.

“You lied to me and you lied to all of us,” Culberson charged. “Your office tried to paint a picture of Ramos and Compean as dirty cops, and now you come before this committee and tell us you never had the information to back up those claims.”

What Makes Muslims Joyful?

Israeli excavation in Jerusalem stirs Muslim anger:

Israeli excavation work on Tuesday near an entrance to a compound in Jerusalem that houses the al-Aqsa mosque drew Palestinian protests and Israeli assurances the dig would not harm Islam’s third holiest shrine.

Israeli police stationed reinforcements in the alleyways of Jerusalem’s walled Old City to head off feared Palestinian violence at a flashpoint site at the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

These folks surely do seem to have an anger problem, judging by how often news headlines/stories seem to talk about “Arab anger” or “Muslim anger” or such like. Maybe the mainstream media is biased against Islam and Arabs?

So when I saw the above headline a few minutes ago, I thought, “Ho hum.” Yawn.

Then I wondered, “What makes these people happy? What brings joy to their hearts? To what does their Koran point as sources of happiness?”

Then I wondered about me.

Above all, love God!

since November 9, 2005