Egypt Turns Ugly

Yesterday, Mubarak’s government unleashed goon squads riding camels and horses and equipped with knives, sticks, and petrol bombs on peaceful anti-Mubarak demonstrators. The melee that erupted has so far killed six and wounded over eight hundred.

Repressive dictators will resort to anything to stay in power, and the world is full of them, past and present. Life, injury, poverty, or death of their people is simply a tool in the bid to retain control. Reminds me of Satan who “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

In fact, Satan and Mubarak have a common interest: knowing their time is limited, they have nothing to lose, and accordingly are the most dangerous. They will lie, cheat, and murder to retain what’s left of their tattered dignity.

Give this some thought. Generally, nations with Christian heritage accord their citizens the greatest rights. Perhaps Japan is an exception, although their record is to copy the west—even China is slowly following suit—imitate freedom of commerce first, and rights must follow!

The current unrest through the Middle East has highlighted the fact that most Muslim countries are dictatorships, frequently using strict Sharia law to control their populations. But those populations clamour for the freedoms of the west, often irrationally hating western countries at the same time!

Of course, millions of Muslims have moved to the relative safety and freedom western countries offer. How do we respond? Do we treat them with the same dignity Christianity has conferred on us? It is illogical to champion their rights in Arab countries, while viewing them with suspicion here.

Their dignity is that Christ died for them “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).They are candidates for the Kingdom just as we are. Do we see them with His eyes?

Tunisia last, Egypt now; then . . . ?

It’s not possible to watch the events unfolding in Egypt without concern. Any shift in the power base in the Middle East creates concern for Israel’s relations with its neighbours, but also for other Arab states with dictatorial regimes.

The current unrest started in Tunisia, which toppled a long time dictator, and continues in other Arab dictatorships in Jordan and Yemen. If the unrest spreads to the gulf oil states, we will also feel the effects in the west.

Egypt, the only Arab nation with a peace treaty with Israel, has the largest Arab population of eighty million, mostly Muslim. But Egypt also has sizable Christian minority, as noted in recent attacks against the Coptic Christians in Egypt.

The only recognizable opposition group is the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt. Although it has renounced violence, it strongly opposes Israel and the west, maintains links to Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and has a wide following among the poor in the country.

According to reports, Mohamed ElBaradei, the only visible opposition leader in the country, is considering forming a coalition government with the Brotherhood should Mubarak fall.

Any change to a government that opposes Israel will change the balance of power sharply, and Israel’s position, fragile as it is now, will become more uncertain. All Arab nations surrounding Israel, apart from Egypt, are still technically at war with her.

End time prophecies centre on the biblical lands with Israel as a sovereign state. This was not possible for the last two thousand years until 1948, when Israel became a recognised nation in Palestine. Thus the Middle East is centre stage in world events; all other conflicts are sideshows.

Any event in this area interests Christians as a possible step towards the return of Christ, but I have written on the specific events that will indicate the nearness of his coming in Guess Who’s Coming to Reign! Check the website, http://norfords-writings.com/books.

Muslims: Our Neighbours!

  

Many of you probably watched the US president’s state of the union address Tuesday evening. Apart from his pre-occupation with political and economic issues, one thing he said caught my attention. 

He made a direct overture to the Muslim population in the States, assuring them they were part of the American family. The whole chamber gave a standing ovation to this statement.

Personally, I was heartened by this display of inclusion, although Maclean’s May 24^th 2009 magazine found that 45% of Canadians consider mainstream Islam encourages violence, and many Christians are ambivalent about the growing Muslim presence.

The massive migration of Muslims from their homelands to the west in recent years, bears testimony to the desire for escape from religious tyranny to the freedom of expression (however challenged) of western nations.

Ann and I have had contact with a number of Muslim families over many years, and found that, whatever interpretation others place on the Quran’s promotion of violence, most Muslims want what we all want: freedom and security to raise their families. The violent Islamist fringe threatens them as it threatens us.

I find Jesus’ own approach to people enlightening. He took exception to the leaders of His own faith who discriminated against “sinners” opposed to their ideals, and spent most of His time with those “sinners.” While making clear His message, He still attended to their needs for healing and forgiveness though none except 120 would respond to His message.

It seems to me that Jesus’ would censure us for our reluctance to engage and serve the Muslim and other religious communities. They are as deserving of His care and concern as the “sinners” of His earthly time. Disagreement with  beliefs is no excuse for discrimination. For Jesus, they are like sheep without a shepherd.

What do you think is our first priority: to convert them or care for them? Certainly the two are related, but where do we start, and is the purpose of love to convert?

Our Favourite Excuse: “I’m a Victim!”

Read the story at http://www.canada.com/health/Packing+pounds+blamed+weight+Walmart/4131466/story.html.

Have an expanding waistline? It’s not your fault! Some-one else is to blame: WALMART!

Canada.com reports that “researchers found that one new Walmart supercentre per 100,000 residents meant an average weight gain of 1.5 pounds per person sometime over a 10-year period dating from the store's opening.”

Apparently, they are trampling our good health by allowing us to trample their inner aisles seeking cheap delights and fodder. Maybe we can sue Walmart for our waistlines like the woman who sued McDonalds for injury from hot coffee!

With obesity responsible for decreasing Canadian health, Walmart must be responsible for the extended health care line-ups and increasing health care costs. If Walmart is responsible for our poor health, then it’s reasonable to consider someone else is responsible for our character failings.

Of course, our parents! Their poor example and errors in our up-bringing make us the people we are. And I thought I was responsible for the way I behave. They are to blame and should be charged for my failures.

Most of us can’t sue our parents, they are probably dead. Problem is, they had parents also whom they could have sued, and their parents had . . . The Bible’s right, it’s all Adam and Eve’s fault for the way we are now.

Really? Don’t they have the same excuse? Let’s face it. They didn’t put the snake in the garden. Walmart has shown us that yielding to temptation is not the sin, it is in providing the opportunity to yield. And that God supplied! That’s better; finally have that guilt monkey off my back.

Let’s revel in our new-found innocence. Let’s continue in corpulence, disease and death, and finish in the fires of Hell. After all, we have the greatest excuse: It’s all someone else’s fault!