By Bob Unruh
© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

London reaction (Photo from catholiclondoner)

Christian churches in the Middle East are vandalized, a Catholic nun in Africa is killed and Muslims have demanded that the pope convert to Islam – all because he read a quote from a medieval text that described Islam as "evil and inhuman."

The pope has issued an apology for even referencing the historic text, emphasized that those views are not his, but still many in the Islamic world are demanding blood.

A new group called "The sword of Islam" contacted reporters and said it had fired gunshots at a Christian church in the Middle East during a demonstration over the comments.

"We want to make it clear that if the pope does not appear on TV and apologize for his comments, we will blow up all of Gaza's churches," the group said in a report.

The controversy arose a few days ago while Pope Benedict XVI was speaking in Germany, and he referred to the conclusions of Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus, in which he made the reference to Islam being violent.

The pope, according to a Vatican statement, was simply reflecting on the "theme of the relationship between religion and violence in general, and to conclude with a clear and radical rejection of the religious motivation for violence, from whatever side it may come."

But Muslims reacted to what they apparently perceived as an attack on their religion, and started vandalizing Middle East Christian churches, with seven so far sustaining varying levels of destruction.

In Africa, a nun was shot and killed, with indications the attack may have been a reaction to the statements.

And now, a report in the Jerusalem Post said that Muslim religious leaders in the Gaza Strip are warning the pope that he must "accept" Islam if he wanted to live in peace.

 

London reaction (Photo from catholiclondoner)

One Muslim cleric, Imad Hamto, said the pope must "repent and ask for forgiveness" and Hamto referred to a phrase taken from letters sent by the founder of Islam to the chiefs of tribes in his times – when he reportedly urged them to convert to Islam in order to keep their lives.

While President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, who himself has publicly called for the destruction of Israel and has denied the Holocaust without significant reaction, suggested that the pope has satisfactorily "modified" his remarks, others said they did not agree.

"Either apologize or don't come," read banners at a protest in Turkey, where the pope is scheduled to visit in November. And in Libya, a son of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi said the pope needs to change.

"If this person were really someone reasonable, he would not agree to remain at his post one minute but would convert to Islam immediately," the son, Mohammad Qaddafi, said.

The New York Times reported that the pope had issued condolences to the family of Sister Leonella Sgorbati, who was shot and killed in Somalia with her bodyguard.

"In repeating a firm condemnation of all forms of violence, his holiness the pope hopes that the blood shed by a such a faithful follower of the Gospel will become a seed of hope to build an authentic brotherhood between peoples," said a Vatican statement.

The Muslim American Society's Freedom Foundation said it plans a joint statement later with Catholic organizations over the pope's statements.

In the blog world, the "catholiclondoner" posted a number of photographs indicating that Muslims in the United Kingdom perhaps are not ready to move past the comments.

"Thought I'd refrain from posting anything substantial about his uproar …" he wrote. "Unfortunately after Mass today at Westminster Cathedral it was shoved in my face."

He said about 100 Islamists were chanting slogans in front of the church, including "Pope Benedict go to Hell," and "Pope Benedict you will pay, the Muja Hadeen are coming your way."

"It was a pretty nasty demonstration," he said.

"You have also given a witness to the hypocrisy of those Muslims who complain about being insulted on the one hand while giving grievous offence on the other. Well done," said one comment from "dunadan" on the Londoner's blog

"As a British citizen, I really hope that our government will now do something about the threat from Islam and Islamism – not just in words, but in deeds," said another.

"God Bless you brother in the Lord and friend for being a true witness to your faith. I am not surprised that there is protest. The pope simply cited the historic record. The Muslims have to face up to their history, they cannot forever live in deniel (sic)," said bigcatlady.

"You have helped expose the hatred and hypocrisy rotting beneath the polished 'Religion of Peace' façade," said emlin. "They feel free to curse and insult the Pope – but if you speak the truth about their beloved war-mongering Mohammed, well then a little jihad should help you feel the real peace of islam."

Pakistan's Parliament also approved a resolution criticizing the pope for his "derogatory" remarks. And Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said the comments were "ugly."

The words that the pope quoted were: "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

A report at LifeSiteNews.com said it traced the development of the furor and found a series of media reports contributing to the situation.

The report said the day after the speech, there was almost no reaction. A day later, however, there was a headline, "Pope's speech stirs Muslim anger."

As that headline spread through the Muslim world, the report said, the furor became real.

"On Sunday, Toronto-based columnist, David Warren, wrote in the Ottawa Citizen on the media-instigated uproar that has led to retaliatory attacks in Israel against Christian churches and clergy and the murder of a nun in Somalia," the report said.

"By manipulating the event, Warren says, the BBC was 'having a little mischief. The kind of mischief that is likely to end with Catholic priests and faithful butchered around the Muslim world.'"

Bob Unruh is a news editor for WorldNetDaily.com.

The ACLU: Malignant and Growing

By Pat Boone

"Sit down, Mr. Citizen. I hate to tell you this, but I guess the best thing is just to spit it out. You've got cancer. And not just a localized cancer, but a malignant, fast-spreading strain. It's already attacked all your vital organs and is infiltrating through your circulatory system to even your outer extremities.

"Unless we take every action available to us and attack this disease on all fronts with the strongest possible treatments, you will surely die a painful, lingering, wasting death.

"And I am bound to tell you this: It may already be too late for us to turn this thing around. This cancer is that virulent, that aggressive. I'm sorry, Mr. Citizen."

If this diagnosis were directed at you, how would you react? What would you do?

Would you shrug it off and start daydreaming about your plans for the weekend? Would you drift out to pick up a latte and an afternoon paper? Just go back to work and forget about it? Or would you contact a lawyer to draw up a will – while checking yourself into the best clinic you could find to fight the cancer with any and every treatment known to medicine today? Would you sell your house if necessary, drain any savings account, put every asset at your command on the line, in a determined all-out campaign to live?

Most of us, I believe, would do the latter. I certainly would.

Well, whether we realize it or not, you and I are living right now under such a sentence, such a diabolical attack. The disease is called ACLU. This cancerous organization, this poisonous growth – fraudulently self-named the American Civil Liberties Union – is attacking every one of our foundational bases, our vital organs; and it has now expanded its onslaughts to small towns, cemeteries, churches, and even children's groups like the Boy Scouts! Its goal is to remove every last vestige of Christian or Jewish faith from public life.

Muslim, Hindu, Self-Awareness, even militant atheist religion – they can stay. But Judeo-Christian believers must keep their mouths shut, hide any and all open expressions of their faith, and retire to closed-window ghettos. Church of Satan ? You can stay, oh sainted high priest LaVey. But you Christians, you Jews ... get those filthy crosses and those maddening six-pointed stars out of our sight! We aren't even 1 percent of the American public, but we demand that you do as we say!

Think I'm exaggerating?

Look at just a few of the countless things this deviant group supports, and even actively promotes:

• Abortion on demand throughout pregnancy
• Eradication of any reference to the Ten Commandments or the Bible from public buildings, hillsides, and even cemeteries
• Extended constitutional protection for our sworn enemies!
• Free access to pornography, including Internet pornography access for children
• Freedom to desecrate the American flag
• Tax-exempt status for Satanists
• Actively pro-homosexual school curriculums
• Legalized prostitution
• Legalized drugs
• Nudist camps for teenagers
• Same-sex "marriages"
• ... and that's just a brief partial list of the ACLU's heavy-handed, activist campaigns!

And what does the "Anti-Christian Litigation Union " oppose?

• "God Bless America " banners in schools!
• "Abstinence before marriage" sex education
• Christian home schooling
• Legalized voluntary, majority-approved prayer in schools
• Sobriety checkpoints and drug searches
• Medical safety reporting of AIDS cases
• Parental consent cases for teen abortions
• Most post-9/11 security measures
• Any Christian display in public
• Any use of religious symbols for even historical displays
• Any reference to God, let alone Jesus, in a schoolchild's speech, paper, or essay answer!!

Am I exaggerating? I've only scratched the surface!

This group of U.S.-educated lawyers has proudly filed expensive suits:

• leading to the U.S. Defense Department banning military units from sponsoring Boy Scout troops or even letting them meet on government property.
• supporting an 18-year-old man accused of raping a 14-year-old mentally handicapped boy, arguing that teens should be "free from state compulsion."
• representing the pro-pedophile North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) – at no cost! – after two group members were accused of raping and murdering a 10-year-old boy.
• successfully driving Boy Scouts out of a local park, because Scouts do not permit homosexual leaders, then winning 940,000 tax dollars to cover attorney fees and court costs!
• successfully pressuring the L.A. County Board of Supervisors to remove a tiny cross from the long-official county seal (though no one had objected to it) – and then pledging to target all other U.S. government agencies with any religious symbols on their seals.
• recommending that New Orleans public school officials be "fined or jailed" for failing to stop a prayer before a high school football game – claiming that prayer at school-related functions is "un-American and immoral"!!

As I said, I've only scratched the surface. This space isn't big enough to say all that must be said about what this ACLU malignancy is doing to America , so I'll pick up here next time.

Meanwhile, pray for America – before this gang stops you!

This group of U.S.-educated lawyers has proudly filed expensive suits:

• leading to the U.S. Defense Department banning military units from sponsoring Boy Scout troops or even letting them meet on government property.
• supporting an 18-year-old man accused of raping a 14-year-old mentally handicapped boy, arguing that teens should be "free from state compulsion."
• representing the pro-pedophile North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) – at no cost! – after two group members were accused of raping and murdering a 10-year-old boy.
• successfully driving Boy Scouts out of a local park, because Scouts do not permit homosexual leaders, then winning 940,000 tax dollars to cover attorney fees and court costs!
• successfully pressuring the L.A. County Board of Supervisors to remove a tiny cross from the long-official county seal (though no one had objected to it) – and then pledging to target all other U.S. government agencies with any religious symbols on their seals.
• recommending that New Orleans public school officials be "fined or jailed" for failing to stop a prayer before a high school football game – claiming that prayer at school-related functions is "un-American and immoral"!!

As I said, I've only scratched the surface. This space isn't big enough to say all that must be said about what this ACLU malignancy is doing to America , so I'll pick up here next time.

Meanwhile, pray for America – before this gang stops you!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given...of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end....with justice from henceforth even for ever." (Isaiah 9:6)

GOD CREATED THE WORLD WITH ETERNITY IN MIND

God is eternal and infinite.  He does not think with a finite mind as we do!  God's thoughts and actions reflect His omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence and eternalness!

God's plans and purposes for this universe and all of us, were formulated in His mind before He created the foundations of the world. Eternity in heaven or hell had already been determined.

God cannot make a mistake, lGod cannot lie or be wrong in His intentions of deeds, for God is totally righteous, all knowing and all wise!

EVERYTHING GOD DOES IS FOR ETERNITY!

God knows the future and sees the pitfalls and snares that await our stumbling feet.  And God helps us, protects us from the devil, protects us from the world and from ourselves!

WHY ARE WE SO IMPORTANT TO GOD?  Firstly, we were made in God's image.  Secondly, Jesus personally died for our sins and finally, through the new birth, we are a part of Him - his body!

WHAT DOES ETERNITY MEAN? What does the word eternity mean?  Eternity means forever and ever, without end.  The words, "there shall be no end" and "forever", show the eternal purposes of God in the birth of Christ.  THE INCARNATION WAS SERIOUS STUFF. Eternity is serious stuff.    

The moment, of God the Son - wrapping Himself in human flesh - coming down to earth to save us.  All this was deliberately and perfectly timed and executed, and all with eternity in mind. 

"But when the fullness of time was come, God sent His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." (Galatians  4:4-5)

Jesus coming to earth to die for our sins wasn't an after thought or a fill-in.  The decision to send King Messiah to this earth, was communicated to Satan - the adversary - immediately after Adam and Eve's tragic fall.

"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head and thou shall bruise His heel." (Genesis  3:15)

Here, God promises a "virgin born" savior (her seed), Who would conquer Satan through His substitutionary death.  In the process, the Savior would suffer a minor wound (bruise His heel), and Satan would be totally defeated (bruise his head)!

JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS - With Eternity in Mind

Although Jesus suffered more than any man, was wounded and marred for our total salvation, it was minor because He laid down His life of His own free will. (John 10:15-18)

SATAN HAD NO POWER OVER JESUS

Satan could not take it from Him!  And Jesus arose again on the third day, destroying Satan and his power over us!    

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;" (Hebrews 2:14)

FROM THE INCARNATION TO THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST, AND THROUGHOUT THE 'GOSPEL AGE', GOD HAS CONTINUED THE EXECUTION OF HIS ETERNAL WILL, THROUGH HIS CHURCH, THE CALLED-OUT-ONES!

WE MUST LIVE WITH ETERNITY IN MIND

This is why it is so important that we live with "eternity in mind".  All our plans and goals should reflect this mind set, in our relationships to God, the Church - His body - and the world!  We must think of the future, of eternity and prepare ourselves for eternity, and eternal life with Jesus Christ.

Let us study the Word of God, pray, witness and give joyfully, to help build His eternal Kingdom!

Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:3,7)

The Bible makes it clear that, "He who hath the Son hath everlasting life: and he who believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)

That means that all those who do not personally know Jesus Christ, must receive Him as Savior and Lord in order to be saved and to be in Heaven with Christ for eternity.

ETERNITY - THERE IS A  REAL HEAVEN & A REAL HELL

St. John emphasized:  "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His Son.  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself:  he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave His Son.  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life.  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe in the name of the Son of God." (I John 5:9-13)

HERE IS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH - All who reject Jesus Christ and refuse to receive Him as Lord & Savior are calling Almighty God a LIAR, "because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son." (verse 10)

Do you think for one moment that anyone will escape the judgment of God when they reject Jesus Christ - His gift to the world - and call Him a liar?

That's serious stuff, since God is the judge of the entire world!  How do you think an earthly judge would react if someone in his courtroom called him "a liar"?  He would immediately be guilty of 'contempt of court' of worse!

St. Paul puts it all in perspective when he says, "For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him." (Heb. 2:2-3)

ETERNITY IS REAL - ETERNITY IS FOREVER

In the Apocalypse, St. John warns:  "And the DEVIL that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the BEAST and the FALSE PROPHET are, and SHALL BE TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOR EVER AND EVER.  And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."

"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:10-15)

HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS!  Jesus invites, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28)

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE LOVE OF GOD THE FATHER AND THE FELLOWSHIP AND COMMUNION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH US ALL, BOTH NOW AND FOREVERMORE. Amen.