IllumiNations!

WILL THE REAL ISLAM PLEASE STAND UP?!

WILL THE REAL ISLAM PLEASE STAND UP?!  I am confused.  I keep hearing in the Liberal press and in press releases from Islamic Organizations that Islam is a peaceful religion that teaches tolerance and love for your fellow man.  I have listened to Islamic apologists on NPR speak of the "radical minority" giving Islam a bad name.  I guess the reason I don't buy it is because every time a Muslim Nation is faced with an opportunity to demonstrate this so called "religious tolerance" they show their true colors and expose the reality of Islam as a religion of the sword. 

Even in Turkey, a Muslim Nation with a "secular" government, Christians face persecution, bureaucratic red tape and threats.  Our brother in Christ, Abdul Rahman has now been released due to pressure from the West and his so-called insanity and is in need of political asylum in a truly tolerant western nation.  Unfortunately, at this point we are not even sure if he is alive, or where he will go. 

Italy has stepped up and offered him asylum, but the good old U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT has offered this helpful advice, "Asked whether the U.S. government was doing anything to secure Rahman's safety after his release, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in Washington that where he goes after being freed is "up to Mr. Rahman."  Wow, that is profound help!  Where is our courage?  We put pressure on Afghanistan to release Rahman and then don't offer help?  Is this another example of secret deal cutting going on?  I am sorry Mr. Bush, but you have got to do better than this. 

As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I recognize those shameful times in history when Christ's followers departed from His character and teaching and did shameful deeds in His name such as Inquisitions, Crusades and Pogroms.  I recognize that Muslims, Jews and fellow Christians have suffered horribly  at the hands of those who claimed to be the representation of Jesus Christ in the earth.  Those who slaughtered and persecuted the innocent in Christ's name were wrong and were not representing His teaching or His nature!  True Biblical Christianity is clear on this.  Unfortunately, all of us who name Him as Lord must suffer with what our forebears did in His name. 

However, Muhammed and his followers have spread Islam by the sword from its very inception.  Islam has always been a religion of war and conquering and to deny this is to be untrue to history.  I know, I know, Jihad is supposed to be about personal struggle and the overcoming of temptation and evil, but it has always included the aspect of making war against Jews, Christians and other infidels.  Whereas Christianity seeks to convert through persuasion, reason and reliance upon God's Spirit working in the human heart, Islam uses persuasion, reason and the threat of violence when the first two have failed.  To deny this is to lack integrity.

So, if any Muslims out there read this article and feel the need to write a response, please enlighten us on the REAL ISLAM.  Please demonstrate for us an example of any state on this planet where Islam is truly tolerant of other faiths.  Islam is in desperate need of reform in the same way Christianity has been at various times in history.  I know there are many good individual Muslims and that millions of Muslims are perplexed by what they see parading as their faith.  Honestly though, when you contrast Jesus and Muhammad, you see a man who conquers human hearts by love and one who conquered by war in Allah's name.  I am not trying to be disrespectful to any Muslim, but I must ask, WILL THE REAL ISLAM PLEASE STAND UP?

FOR MORE ON THIS SUBJECT, PLEASE READ RICHARD COHEN'S COLUMN IN THE WASHINGTON POST BY CLICKING HERE

AFGHAN CHRISTIAN TO BE RELEASED!

The man who was prepared to die for his trust in Jesus Christ appears to be on his way to freedom after the authorities in Afghanistan have decided to drop his case.  Abdul Rahman was facing the death penalty for converting to Christianity some 16 years ago.  It is so very important that we pray for him now since many Islamic clerics are calling for his death.  Among large numbers of Muslims, it would be considered honorable and righteous to kill Mr. Rahman and thus remove the shame from Islam for the "crime" of rejecting Islam.  PLEASE PRAY FOR HIS SAFE RELEASE AND FOR SAFE HAVEN!

READ THE STORY AT USA TODAY BY CLICKING HERE

CAN AMERICA KEEP UP?

CAN AMERICA KEEP UP?  That is the question U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT asks in a special report on America's ability to keep up with the global economy and its technological leap forward in nations like China, India and South Korea. 

This is one article among thousands that have been written in the last few years about the rapid decline of American global dominance technologically and economically.  This report is sobering to say the least.  On the one hand it is exciting to see other nations emerge and offer their citizens a better life, while on the other hand it is disappointing to watch our great country go the way of many civilizations throughout history.  I only hope we awaken to these global realities before we find ourselves economic slaves to the rest of the world.  Though it may take decades for the concerns raised to become reality, we must act now to maintain a place of leadership.

Please take the time to read this article, though I forewarn you that it is a little discouraging and quite long.  It is very important that those of us within the church of Jesus Christ in this country be aware of the trends happening globally.  The breathtaking speed of these events is going to deeply influence our lives and our children's lives.  Where oh where are the Christian Entrepreneurs? 

For the purpose of whetting your appetite, here is a short quote from the CEO of THOUGHTWORKS, a Technology company;

Complacency. Besides, many people see deeper problems--widespread American complacency, an entitlement mentality about jobs, and a pure lack of awareness about how tenacious some foreign companies and their employees have become--that can't be fixed by a few federal grants. "When you're in college drinking beer and watching the Super Bowl, your counterpart in China is on his fourth book," says Roy Singham, CEO of ThoughtWorks, a software consultancy with offices in the United States, India, China, and elsewhere. "I'm not predicting the end of American entrepreneurship, but we will lose 10 to 30 percent of our high-end start-ups."

OUCH!  WHAT AN INDICTMENT!

READ THE ARTICLE AT U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT BY CLICKING HERE

100 YEARS OF POWER AND PROVOCATION!

Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  NIV

One hundred years ago this year in Los Angeles California, a one-eyed, uneducated, African American son of former slaves was used by God to launch the fastest growing movement in the history of Christianity.  William Seymour prayed for and preached a new Pentecost and the results have been about 580 million adherents worldwide and the most effective missions enterprise ever to be undertaken.

Of course I am referring to the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement that has been the source of great power and provocation throughout Christendom for most of the last century.  As an Evangelical/Charismatic/Mostly Reformed pastor of an Interdenominational church in Eastern Washington State, I am both thankful and proud of my heritage and concerned for the future of this growing global movement.  Somehow I know we must preserve the power missions approach to the gospel while continuing to strive to maintain sound theological underpinnings.

Christianity Today Magazine is devoting a significant amount of print to this story which I really appreciate.  I would encourage all disciples of Jesus Christ to take the time to read these articles with an open heart and mind while realizing that much of what you see on some Christian TV is not truly representative of most of Pentecostal/Charismatic Christianity. 

At the root of our theology is the simple concept that the Holy Spirit is still actively working to confirm His Word with signs following and to edify His church.  We just believe and live as if the book of the Acts of the Apostles would be more aptly called the Acts of the Holy Spirit and that He is still at work in the earth to promote The gospel of the Kingdom with POWER!

WEARY OF GETTING MY HEART BROKE!

Is God trying to deal with some terrible evil within my heart?  Is the horrible American Idol of Sports being dismantled?  Have I lifted up the teams of my choice into some high place that God wants only to be inhabited by Him? NO, I HAVEN'T, BUT I KNOW SOME OF YOU THINK SO!  (; 

In the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel chapter 5, one of the dark seasons in Israel's history is recorded as the writer narrates the tragedy of the Ark of the Covenant being taken by the Philistines in battle.  After the Philistines capture the ark they take it to the Temple of their god Dagon and set it up next to the idol.  When the people awakened the next morning, the idol had fallen down face first in front of the ark.  The people set him up again, and once more, they returned to find Dagon fallen, but this time with his head and hands broken off!  The head represents authority and the hands, power and provision.  It was as if Yahweh was saying, "In my Presence, all of your false gods have no authority or power!"

I am starting to feel like these poor Philistines when it comes to my love of sports.  Every team I have allowed my heart to find some kind of attachment to these last several months has been defeated in some of the most painful ways imaginable.  First, USC up by 12 points with only 6 minutes to go, lets Vince Young and Texas steal the National Championship.  Next, that abomination known as the STUPID BOWL took my already broken heart and stomped on it over and over again as my SEAHAWKS and the REFS choked away the World Championship.  Tonight after watching the Gonzaga Bulldogs outplay the UCLA BRUINS for all but the last 2 minutes of the game and then literally give the game away on a silver platter, I have concluded that God is out to bring my Dagon down!

Yes, that's right, I believe the entire sports universe is revolving around me and my addiction and that God is trying to rip the deep seated pleasure I derive from sports out like a rotten cavity of a tooth!  The problem is, I don't know if I want to be set free!  Seriously though, can you imagine what it must be like to be a Red Sox, White Sox or Cubs fan?  The first two finally got the monkey off their back.  Maybe this year will be the Cubs year?  Anyway, could someone please call Bill Clinton for me because I know he can "FEEL MY PAIN."  Oh, I am so weary of getting my heart broke! 

UCLA 73 - GONZAGA 71

AN AMBASSADOR FOR CHRIST

It seems that everywhere I look out in cyberspace, I here people talking about and quoting  Charles Colson as if he is a newly discovered voice in the Christian world.  I am really excited about this development because I deeply respect Colson and see him as a true Ambassador for The kingdom of Jesus! 

I have been a Colson fan for many years now and really appreciate his ability to take deep philosophical questions that deal with the clash of worldviews and civilizations and make them relevant to scholar and lay person alike.  (By the way, though I am a pastor, I cannot stand the term "lay person"!) 

Well, in honor of Mr. Colson, I have added several of the books he has written in my WORTH READING section that have had an impact on my life and thinking.  These books are an excellent read because Colson won't let you off the hook when it comes to the application of truth.  He will not allow the disconnect between belief and action that is so prevalent in much of Western Christianity to have any place within our common faith.  If you profess that Jesus Christ is Lord, then it goes to reason that He is actively at work within you to enable you to practically live out your profession by demonstrating God's love to the culture at large.  Dig in to a Colson book and enjoy!

P.S. COLSON'S BREAKPOINT RADIO PROGRAM CAN BE HEARD AT HIS WEBSITE BY CLICKING HERE

AN UPDATE ON A CRAZY CHRISTIAN

It seems our friend Abdul Rahman is a CRAZY CHRISTIAN according to reports from Afghanistan.  You may remember I wrote about him and the martyrdom of Christians the other day in THE HIDDEN REALITY OF MODERN MARTYRDOM.  Whether or not this is a ploy to help Afghanistan avoid political embarrassment or the truth, God can use a number of ways to show mercy to His people.  If Abdul is insane, at least he is insanely saved through simple child-like faith in Christ.  He seems to have enough on the ball to refuse to deny Christ.  Remember, there are some modern Psychologists that believe religious belief is a form of mental illness.  If that is the case, I guess I am truly out of my mind!

PS - THE PICTURE IS DEFINITELY NOT FLATTERING!

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE ON FOX NEWS

THE SACRAMENTS OF FLYING EAGLES AND GOOD MUSIC

A SACRAMENT in the Christian Faith is a rite that conveys or transmits the grace of God to the adherent.  As an Evangelical/Charismatic believer I hold to the general tradition that Baptism, the Lord's Supper and the Preaching of the Scripture are Sacraments that convey Divine grace into the life of the believer. 

However, I have also come to believe in a broader application of Sacramental living because I see and experience God regularly conveying His grace to myself and other disciples in a number of non-traditional ways.  Some examples would include the gifts of the Holy Spirit, anointed music, touch and the beauty and majesty of creation.

THE HIDDEN REALITY OF MODERN MARTYRDOM

Revelation 6:9-11

9And when the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their witness. 10They called loudly to the Lord and said, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge the people who belong to this world for what they have done to us? When will you avenge our blood against these people?" 11Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters--their fellow servants of Jesus--had been martyred.  (NLT)

As I have written before, there is a whole lot of important and noteworthy news going on in our world that is unreported by the major news outlets because it is not politically correct.  One of the ongoing stories I would include in this category is the horrible and glorious reality of martyrdom and persecution for being a follower of Jesus Christ.  Every year all over our globe, thousands of disciples of Jesus Christ are imprisoned, lose their homes and jobs, are tortured and even face horrible deaths for the sake of Jesus and His gospel.

This past Sunday on a number of the major news outlets like USA TODAY, the story of an Afghan man facing death for converting to Christianity 16 years ago really caught my attention.  I was both saddened for him and encouraged to see this story making the rounds.  For all of those people out there who continue to declare that Islam is a peaceful religion, I only need to point out that wherever Shariah Law and the Islamic religion have political power, people of other faiths can be and are often imprisoned and put to death for their beliefs.

This man is a hero that we need to highly esteem and pray for.  Let us pray for God's mercy and deliverance from the death sentence for Abdul Rahman.  It may be the will of God for Abdul to die as a martyr, but I will pray for his release and for sanctuary in a Western nation where he can love his Lord openly.  After all, that is what the early Christians did as they prayed for Peter.

ACTS 12:5 - So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.  (NIV)

READ ABDUL RAHMAN'S STORY BY CLICKING HERE

I'M BACK!

I know many of you who have faithfully read my blog in days past have been wondering what in the world has happened to me.  Well, LIFE HAPPENS!  I have been very preoccupied with a number of other things and I have given myself a blogging vacation that has now come to an end.  PLEASE COME BACK!  I won't ever leave you like this again (maybe)!  "BABY COME BACK, YOU CAN BLAME IT ALL ON ME.  I WAS WRONG, AND I JUST CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT YOU!"  I'm thinking about taking up song writing in the future.  Anyway, keep your eyes open and please keep your comments coming.

Doug