I found the following on a blog concerning Islam's true objuective: World Rule...

If Islam (which literally means "submit") is the religion of peace, someone forgot to tell that to the Qur'an:

"O Prophet! Strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode is Hell, an evil refuge indeed" — 9:73
The words "strive hard" are translated from "jahidi" which is the verb form of the noun "jihad".

"O ye who believe! Fight the unbelievers who gird you about, and let them find firmness in you: and know that Allah is with those who fear Him" — 9:123
"Prophet, make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites and deal rigorously with them. Hell shall be their home: an evil fate" — 9:73

"Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who reject faith fight in the cause of evil: so fight ye against the friends of Satan" — 4:76

"Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them captive, and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful" — 9:5

"Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued" — 9:29

"The People of the Book" are Jews and Christians.

The Qur'an even puts jihad above all other religious duties when it comes to salvation:

"Do ye make the giving of drink to pilgrims, or the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque, equal to the pious service of those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and strive with might and main in the cause of Allah [jihad fi sabil Allah]? They are not comparable in the sight of Allah: and Allah guides not those who do wrong. Those who believe, and suffer exile and strive with might and main, in Allah's cause [jihad fi sabil Allah], with their goods and their persons, have the highest rank in the sight of Allah: they are the people who will achieve salvation" — 9:19-20
"jihad fi sabil Allah" specifically refers to taking up arms for Islam.

"Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth" — 9:111
So according to the Qur'an, those who actually engage in warfare against non-Muslims are the true believers who will be guaranteed paradise.

"Religion of Peace" my foot. Religion of Warfare is more like it.

Forgive me for posting "Satan's Scripture" on this board...

I’ve been taught that ‘turn the other cheek’ has to do with insults.  In culture at that time in history, a slap was the greatest insult a man could dish out.  I believe Jesus was teaching us to ignore insults (as opposed to allowing actual physical abuse). 

And another thing...
 

Did anyone else turn into a pumpkin when they hit post # 2001??  Is this a temporary "just 'till midnight" thingy?  Should I begin buying green clothes to compliment my orange complection?  Can someone PLEASE tell me how to open the refrigerator??



Your friend Judge'Punkin'Not

This is interesting - I heard something about it on the way to work this morning.  Right off the top, I will say I'm skeptical of USA Today - they aren't much more reliable than the New York Times.  I'm also suspicious of any story line that begins with "statistics indicate..."  A “Statistic" is a strange animal, something akin to a chameleon.  It changes to adapt to its environment and most often the environment is faultily controlled by the statistician.   

Having expressed my doubts, let’s say the story is actually true (from my experiences it is just the opposite) but let’s just say it is true.  According to statistics (obviously controlled by a different statistician than used by the USA Today) Christianity remains the fastest growing religion. (1) 

If Christianity is growing, why are baptisms declining?  What could logically cause it?  The story seems to indicate Christian apathy.  If baptism is declining due to apathy, then that would fall directly on the shoulders of our pastoral leadership.  It would also indicate we, as Evangelicals, are not stressing the importance of public commitment to Jesus through water baptism. 

For all the prophesy buffs out there - is there anything in prophesy that addresses a decline in baptism?  If so, I may take the story seriously.  I tend to think it is just a not-so-subtle jab at Christianity by USA Today liberals.  The liberal’s mission is to marginalize Christianity, and they’ll never miss a chance.   

(1) [Some indicators show Islam is the fastest growing, but sword-point conversions don’t sway the heart.  There is a difference in practicing Islam and bending to Islam.] 

I hope ya’ll have a GREAT Resurrection Day!  May Jesus be with you and yours – and please be safe!  I’m doing a 1,000 mile round trip (Austin to north of Amarillo) with my daughter.  Will do Sunrise Services at Palo Duro Canyon (I hope).
God bless all,       
Jim

Darwin's Grandpa
 

There is a church in San Francisco called Glide Memorial. Glide is the local media’s choice as ‘voice’ of City ‘Protestants’. It is supposed to be (once was) a Methodist church. When Cecil Williams took over as pastor, his first act was to have the big wooden cross removed from the wall from behind the pulpit. It seems it was too exclusive. If you go to their website (http://www.glide.org) you will not find the words “God” or “Jesus”.

Glide is THE example of how The City government (politics) reshaped a church into the Progressive Religion. Glide worships The City’s mandated brand of diversity – not God. The City Government played the starring roll in the death of Christianity at Glide Memorial Church. It was clearly, without a doubt, the government establishing religion.

Now, for some reason, they think they can do the same with the Catholic Church? It is amazing these folks believe they are so all-powerful. How arrogant can silly liberals get?

One thing is for sure – they will eventually learn the truth.

ONCE A BAPTIST - ALWAYS A BAPTIST 
 
John Smith was the only Protestant to move into a large Catholic neighborhood.  On the first Friday of Lent, John was outside grilling a bigjuicy steak on his grill. 
 
Meanwhile, all of his neighbors were eating cold tuna fish for supper. 
This went on each Friday of Lent.  On the last Friday of Lent, the neighborhood men got together and decided that something had to be done about John, he was tempting them to eat meat each Friday of Lent, and they couldn't take it anymore. 
 
They decided to try and convert John to bea Catholic.  They went over and talked to him and were so happy that he decided to join all of his neighbors and become a Catholic. 
 
They took him to church, and the Priest sprinkled some water over him and said, "You were born a Baptist, you were raised a Baptist, and now you are Catholic." 
 
The men were so relieved, now their biggest Lenten temptation was resolved.
 
The next year's Lenten season rolled around.  The first Friday of Lent came, and just at supper time, when the neighborhood was sitting down to their tuna fish dinner, came the wafting smell of steak cooking on a grill. 
 
The neighborhood men could not believe their noses!  WHAT WAS GOING ON? 

They called each other up and decided to meet over in John's yard to see if he had forgotten it was the first Friday of Lent? 
 
The group arrived just in time to see John standing over his grill with a small pitcher of water.  He was sprinkling some water over his steak on the grill, saying, "You were born a cow, you were raised a cow, and now you are a fish."

After forty years of shaving himself every morning, a man in a small 
Southern town decided he had enough. He told his wife that he intended to let the local barber shave him from now on.
 
He went to the shop, which was owned by the pastor of their Baptist church.  The barber's wife, Grace, was working that day so she performed the task.
 
Grace shaved him, sprayed him with lilac water and said "That will be $20." The man thought it a bit high, but paid the bill and went to work.
 
The next morning he looked in the mirror and his face was as smooth as it had been when he left the barbershop the day before. "Not bad," he thought. "At least I don't need to get a shave every day.
 
The next morning the man's face was still smooth. Two weeks later, still smooth. It was more than he could take, so he returned to the barbershop.
 
I thought $20 was high for a shave" he told the Baptist barber/preacher's wife "But you must have done a great job. It's been two weeks and my whiskers still haven't grown back."
 
"Of course they haven't" she replied.
 
"You were shaved by Grace. Once shaved, always shaved."

"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...

There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

--Theodore Roosevelt, 1919

nuf sed

If there was ever a subject that could get me out of hiding...

This story disturbs me.  What is most disturbing is that they are calling it a ‘gospel’.  The literal translation of ‘gospel’ (as everyone on this board knows) is ‘good news’ – is there any?  There is no doubt it is an early Christian writing – written a century or two after the biblical gospels – but to jump on it as divinely inspired is stretching reality.  I think agnostics will try to use it as leverage against the validity of Christianity to discredit God – that also disturbs me.  But then, I suppose God can take care of Himself, huh.

[MERRY CHRISTMAS**]

MERRY CHRISTMAS** to all at CU!

Jesus loves you and I do to.
God bless,
Judgenot

**Legal Disclaimer: "Merry Christmas" (hereafter "The Greeting")...
This announcement is not intended to offend, alienate, foster hate or be a precursor for any egregious acts(legal or illegal), thoughts, words or deeds. "The Greeting" is made only in the context to which it may be legally received, if in fact, it is received at all. It is not intended to be nor should it be, in any way, connected to any other type of greeting, real or imagined, past, present or future. No references to any persons, things or substances, animate or inanimate, real, fictional or otherwise should be assumed by the reader or receiver of the greeting (hereafter, 'the greetee'). The greeting is not being made to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of) nonbelievers in 'The Greeting' in any jurisdiction in which making and or accepting the greeting would violate that jurisdiction’s laws or feelings (also refer to local statutes and ordinances related to 'The Greeting'). In any jurisdiction in which perceived 'greeting' is not welcomed nor agreed upon by all 'greetees', then the 'greetor' of 'The Greeting' will be held harmless in this life and the next, including all issuing posterity both now and forever. 'The Greeting' may be made by a licensed 'greetor' and any liability assumed or created by the 'greetee' shall be the sole responsibility of said 'greetor'. If you have been aggrieved, offended, waylaid, parlayed, filleted or delayed in any way, either real, imagined or perceived by said 'Greeting' and or by 'greetor' as the result of receiving said 'greeting', you can call toll free 1-800-CHRISTMAS to speak with legal counsel."
(Disclaimer Copyright: Urban Family, 2002)

How about 'Muleshoe' Texas?  It is located between 'Circleback' and 'Needmore'.
 

What's the oldest joke you know that still brings laughs?  I received the following via email, today, and realized I must have heard it the first time when I was but a north-Texas tadpole; probably 40 years ago.

The Lord loves ya so love Him back!
JN

A minister concluded that his church was getting into serious financial troubles. While checking the church storeroom, he discovered several cartons of new bibles that had never been opened and distributed.
So at his Sunday sermon, he asked for three volunteers from the congregation who would be willing to sell the bibles door-to-door for $10 each to raise the desperately needed money for the church.
Peter, Paul and Louie all raised their hands to volunteer for the task. The minister knew that Peter and Paul earned their living as salesmen and were likely capable of selling some bibles, but he had serious doubts about Louie who was a local farmer, who had always kept to himself because he was embarrassed by his speech impediment.
Poor Louis stuttered badly. But, not wanting to discourage Louis, the minister decided to let him try anyway. He sent the three of them away with the back seat of their cars stacked with bibles.
He asked them to meet with him and report the results of their door-to-door selling efforts the following Sunday.  Anxious to find out how successful they were, the minister immediately asked Peter, "Well, Peter, how did you make out selling our bibles last week?" Proudly handing the reverend an envelope, Peter replied, "Using my sales prowess, I was able to sell 20 bibles, and here's the $200 I collected on behalf of the church." "Fine job, Peter!" the minister said, vigorously shaking his hand. "You are indeed a fine salesman and the Church is indebted to you."
Turning to Paul, "And Paul, how many bibles did you sell for the church last week?"
Paul, smiling and sticking out his chest, confidently replied," I am a professional salesman. I sold 28 bibles on behalf of the church, and here's $280 I collected."
The minister responded, " That's absolutely splendid, Paul. You are truly a professional salesman and the church is also indebted to you."
Apprehensively, the minister turned to Louie and said, "And Louie, did you manage to sell any bibles last week?" Louie silently offered the minister a large envelope. The reverend opened it and counted the contents.
"What is this?!" the minister exclaimed.
"Louie, there's $3200 in here! Are you suggesting that you sold 320 bibles for the church, door to door, in just one week?" Louie just nodded.
That's impossible!" both Peter and Paul said in unison. "We are professional salesmen, yet you claim to have sold 10 times as many bibles as we could."
"Yes, this does seem unlikely," the minister agreed. "I think you'd better explain how you managed to accomplish this, Louie."
Louie shrugged. "I-I-I- re-re-really do-do-don't kn-kn-know f-f-f-for sh -sh-sh-sure," he stammered. Impatiently, Peter interrupted. "For crying out loud, Louie, just tell us what you said to them when they answered the door!"
"A-a-a-all I-I-I s-s-said wa-wa-was," Louis replied, "W-w-w-w-would y-y-y-you l-l-l-l-l-like t-t-to b-b-b-buy th-th-th-this b-b-b-b-bible f-f-for t-t-ten b-b-b-bucks --o-o-o-or---wo-wo-would yo-you j-j-j-just l-like m-m-me t-t-to st-st-stand h-h-here and r-r-r-r-r-read it t-to y-y-you?"

Hi Scared,
Most all men that I have ever met are guilty of adultery – though I dare say there may be a few (very few) who may be innocent of the sin.  

You see, Jesus said:
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matthew 5:28

Is the physical act more serious than the mental act?  To us mortals it is, but not according to Jesus.  However, by Biblical standards physical adultery is a ‘divorceable’ offense, whereas mental adultery (since man can’t read man’s minds) is not.

Is your husband repentant?  If he is, do you have any choice other than forgiveness?  If not, do you have any choice other than divorce?  Are you as pure (including mentally) as you wish him to be?  These questions may only be answered, as Pastor Roger suggests, through prayer and counseling.  

Don’t be scared.  Rest assured that God has everything under control.  Use prayer and counseling to help identify God’s plan for working this out one way or another.  It won’t be easy.  By nature we want to work things out according to our will rather than God’s.  This causes depression and anxiety because it separates us from Him.

I "became" Baptist because the only church within 20 miles was a Baptist church - not because I chose a particular denominational doctrine.  If the local congregation had of been Methodist, Lutheran or even Catholic, I don't think I would love Jesus any less.  

If I was a new Christian at 50, I'm not sure how I would approach "choosing" a church - but I would probably lean toward the congregation of the person who introduced me to the Lord.

Since I'm an "old" Christian at 50 church shopping is easier.  I lean toward the "dunkin' doner" recipe: A heaping tablespoon of grace, copious amounts of Christ’s blood, a cup of raw love and a gallon of humility.  Toss it all in the blender – top it off with as much of The Spirit as possible and hit the “frappe” button.  This is the recipe for a charitable heart to be followed by a heap of heavenly dessert.  Mmmmm.  

I'm still "church shopping" here in central Tejas.  I actually prefer a smallish community congregation - but all the churches in NW Austin seem to be in the mega-church variety.  There are at least a half-dozen within a few miles of me that require sheriff’s deputies to direct traffic on Sunday mornings - that's not my cup-o-tea.