For some time, I have been thinking about President Obama's speech to the Turkish parliament after he had taken office as President. He declared: “The United States is not, and never will be, at war with Islam.” He went on to say that “our partnership with the Muslim world is critical not just in rolling back the violent ideologies that people of all faiths reject, but also to strengthen opportunity for all its people.”
The President also spoke of his “deep appreciation for the Islamic faith.” Here is the statement in context: "I also want to be clear that America’s relationship with the Muslim community, the Muslim world, cannot, and will not, just be based upon opposition to terrorism. We seek broader engagement based on mutual interest and mutual respect. We will listen carefully, we will bridge misunderstandings, and we will seek common ground. We will be respectful, even when we do not agree. We will convey our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over the centuries to shape the world — including in my own country. The United States has been enriched by Muslim Americans. Many other Americans have Muslims in their families or have lived in a Muslim-majority country — I know, because I am one of them."
In light of all of this, what is the true nature of the threat civilization now faces from radical Islam? Foreign policy analyst Tony Corn bravely addresses that question in “World War IV As Fourth-Generation Warfare,” published in an issue of Policy Review. Corn explains the struggle in terms of a conflict within Islam itself: The challenge confronting the West today is at once less than a full-fledged clash of civilizations and more than some unspecified war on terrorism: It is first and foremost an insurgency within Islam, which began in earnest in 1979, and for which the West remained, at least until 2001, a secondary theater of operations.From 1979 on, the revolution in Iran, the invasion of Afghanistan, the re-Islamization from above in Pakistan, the surge of Saudi activism in the Broader Middle East and the concurrent marginalization of Egypt within the Arab world (following the Camp David accords) combined to give birth to a qualitative and quantitative change of paradigm whereby pan-Arabism — the main movement in the Middle East since 1945 — was supplanted by pan-Islamism.
Thus: The West is at war with a new totalitarianism for which terrorism is one technique or tactic among many. .While specific forms of government vary in the Islamic world, this general understanding holds true. Unlike New Testament Christianity, Islam is essentially a territorial religion including all lands under submission to the rule of the Qur’an. Furthermore, if the United States is to be understood as a Christian nation in the same sense that most nations in the Islamic world consider themselves to be Muslim nations, then America is at war with Islam.
We do face a great civilizational challenge in Islam. Islam is, in effect, the single most vital competitor to Western ideals of civilization on the world scene. The logic of Islam is to bring every square inch of this planet under submission to the rule of the Qur’an. Classical Islam divides the world into the “World of Islam” and the “World of War.” In this latter world the struggle to bring the society under submission to the Qur’an is still ongoing.
This ambition drives the Muslim world — and each faithful Muslim — to hope, pray, and work for the submission of the whole world to the Qur’an. Clearly, most Muslims are not willing to employ terrorism in order to achieve this goal. Nevertheless, it remains the goal.
Islam and the West offer two very different and fundamentally irreconcilable visions of society. While we are certainly not a nation at war with Islam, we are a nation that faces a huge challenge from the Islamic world — a challenge that includes terrorism, but also a much larger civilizational ambition that remains central. Anyone standing in Istanbul, the historic seat of Ottoman power, should certainly recognize that fact.
As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and a minister of the Gospel, my primary concern about Islam is not civilizational or geopolitical, but theological. I believe that Jesus Christ is indeed, “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” and that no one comes to the Father but by Him [John 14:6]. Salvation is found only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Gospel of Christ is the only message that saves.
I can agree with President Obama that Islam has produced cultural wonders, but I have to see it more fundamentally as a belief system that is taking millions upon millions of persons spiritually captive — leaving them under the curse of sin and without hope of salvation.
For Christians, regardless of nationality, this is the great challenge that should be our urgent concern. Our concern is not mainly political, but theological and spiritual. And, all things considered, Islam almost surely represents the greatest challenge to Christian evangelism of our times.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Where are the men who fear God
In listening to the news lately, there seems to be the feeling that we are in for a change this November, and some even think that there will be a turn around and the House and Senate will come back under Republican control, and the failed policies will be repelled.
But if the last several administrations is any indicator, there is not much difference from one another--they support the same things.
The coming November election will not cure, nor even begin to cure, the $14 trillion debt that Congress and the White House have run up in my name, my children’s name and my grandchildren’s name.
Any move from the socialists agenda that has been going on for the last 40 years, but more prevalent in this administration, is not going to happen over night, or in one election. And it may very well not change at all, because of the fact of the rapture and tribulation period, spoken of in God’s Word, is very near!
Christians across the land must understand that the nation is not in the shape it is in because of politicians. It is in this degraded condition because of the people who elect the politicians. In this country, we have a choice of our rulers, and as Christians we should be choosing candidates that align with God’s word. Trouble is, the two party system that has become the norm, often chooses candidates that are so similar that many voters are placed in the precarious position of choosing between what we call “the lessor of two evils.” This is why we must get involved at the local level. Get involved by becoming members of the central committees of the parties and have a say in the candidate selection process.
We also must get active about the judiciary and legal process. St. Augustine once wrote that an unjust law is no law at all. How many laws do we need? How many laws are unjust? How many judges are unjust? A law is unjust when it does not match up with the laws of God. America’s system of government was derived from the system put in place during the Exodus from Egypt. Genesis 18:21 describes the system: “Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rules of tens.”
This was the organizational principle on which the entire government of the United States was predicated. We see in this system of representation how the Founding Fathers established the forms of government from federal-- Executive, Judicial and Legislative bodies-- to the state and the local systems of government. There was a requirement, however, in administering these laws. Those in leadership positions needed to be “able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness.” In other words, moral and Godly people were to be in charge of administering the laws.
This is where we have failed in our personal walk with God, in not ensuring the character and quality of our lawmakers.
We must begin again now. It may become too late if we “continue to halt between two opinions just to be politically correct!
It sure looks like a good day to fly!
But if the last several administrations is any indicator, there is not much difference from one another--they support the same things.
The coming November election will not cure, nor even begin to cure, the $14 trillion debt that Congress and the White House have run up in my name, my children’s name and my grandchildren’s name.
Any move from the socialists agenda that has been going on for the last 40 years, but more prevalent in this administration, is not going to happen over night, or in one election. And it may very well not change at all, because of the fact of the rapture and tribulation period, spoken of in God’s Word, is very near!
Christians across the land must understand that the nation is not in the shape it is in because of politicians. It is in this degraded condition because of the people who elect the politicians. In this country, we have a choice of our rulers, and as Christians we should be choosing candidates that align with God’s word. Trouble is, the two party system that has become the norm, often chooses candidates that are so similar that many voters are placed in the precarious position of choosing between what we call “the lessor of two evils.” This is why we must get involved at the local level. Get involved by becoming members of the central committees of the parties and have a say in the candidate selection process.
We also must get active about the judiciary and legal process. St. Augustine once wrote that an unjust law is no law at all. How many laws do we need? How many laws are unjust? How many judges are unjust? A law is unjust when it does not match up with the laws of God. America’s system of government was derived from the system put in place during the Exodus from Egypt. Genesis 18:21 describes the system: “Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rules of tens.”
This was the organizational principle on which the entire government of the United States was predicated. We see in this system of representation how the Founding Fathers established the forms of government from federal-- Executive, Judicial and Legislative bodies-- to the state and the local systems of government. There was a requirement, however, in administering these laws. Those in leadership positions needed to be “able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness.” In other words, moral and Godly people were to be in charge of administering the laws.
This is where we have failed in our personal walk with God, in not ensuring the character and quality of our lawmakers.
We must begin again now. It may become too late if we “continue to halt between two opinions just to be politically correct!
It sure looks like a good day to fly!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The Lesson of Secretariat
An interesting article came to my e-mail from Wallid Shobat this week that needs to be read, and passed on.What has the new
Disney movie about the Triple Crown winning racehorse Secretariat got to do with the ideals of America and lessons that can be learnt from this great accomplishment? Much can be, now let me explain.
We are witnessing right in front of our eyes the melting down of our country, the huge debts we are incurring, and the irresponsibility of our leaders, the bailouts, the removal of our freedoms because of so called fairness and the obfuscation of personal and government responsibility.
America was born out of a dream, innovation and an ideal of freedom that was achieved through grit and determination, even when the chips were stacked against its leaders and people. Today the American dream and psyche is deeply wounded, the innovating spirit is handicapped by a generation of an entitlement mentality. The chips are down and we need to shake ourselves out of this stupor.
On November 4, 2008 we chose as a nation to sell out on our fighting spirit as a winning nation, even the Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi thinks that “food stamps is the biggest bang for the buck,” is this what our country has become?
The founders believed in freedom but they also believed in something else, just as important and that was winning. For over seven years the colonists fought hard and against tremendous odds to win their independence and freedom from tyranny. Most of the founding leaders were not experienced warriors; they were farmers, professionals and merchants but they were determined to be free. They were willing to follow their dream and willing to sacrifice and allow the chips to fall were they lay. They gave their lives and their fortunes for that freedom and they won despite the odds. Just imagine today declaring war on the greatest super power with an inexperienced army, little resources but just the courage and tenacity to prevail.
Why today do we as a country have such an entitlement mentality? Why is our faith in our own abilities to face challenges been reduced to corporate and personal handouts? We need to hang our heads in shame; this is not America I emigrated to 20 years ago.
The owner of Secretariat, Penny Tweedy Chenery ironically was crippled by a six million dollar inheritance tax after she and her brother were left the horse farm by their father. The inheritance also included the mare that fouled Secretariat. Ms Chenery wished to continue the legacy of her parents and her dream to train a winning horse yet was left with a huge tax bill and no money to pay the IRS. The IRS death tax in itself is a crime against the American people but that is for a different article another time. Ms Chanery used her determination and innovation to sell a syndicate on the breeding rights of the untested horse with a performance clause that would have lost the ownership of the horse and possibly the farm. This she did just to give her the opportunity to have Secretariat compete in the three great races that comprise the legendary and elusive Triple Crown. Penny Tweedy Chenery could have easily taken the easy root, sold the farm, paid the taxes and be left in financial security for life.
Ms Chanery was a housewife with no experience in the horse racing business but she had a dream and wished to continue the great tradition of her family. For her it was not about a comfortable time with an easy bailout it was about fulfilling a dream, freedom and winning. If she could not win on her own terms then she would be satisfied where the chips lay. Her gritty determination gave her the shot at her dream. We all know now how everything turned out.
On Nov 2nd 2010 when we go to the polling stations we need to appreciate not just the freedoms that the founding fathers created for us but we need to return to becoming a proud and winning nation once again. When we cast that vote we also need to understand how each one of us can become winners or improve our performance in our chosen profession, we need to sacrifice with a goal to win. The way forward will be challenging but that makes the satisfaction of winning even greater.
Winning for oneself is also winning for our country and having self-interest provides others with jobs, a purpose and opportunities. Winning is creating conditions so we can all follow our dreams and having leaders who understand this ideal. Winning is allowing individuals to be able to make decisions for themselves and not be made for them by government bureaucrats. Winning is an American tradition, that is why America was great and that why it will be great again starting on midnight Nov 2nd when the winning American spirit will return from the folly of the phony slogan from the presidential campaign of 2008 of “Hope and Change.” Maybe a better slogan for this election is “American Freedom is for Winners.”
The American people are about to put us back on the right track. Thank you Disney for making the movie Secretariat, which showed me what the real ingredients needed to restore a once again great America. Our National anthem says we are the land of the free and the home of the brave; on Nov 2nd let us restore who we are.
Keith Davies
Executive Director Walid Shoebat Fdn
Disney movie about the Triple Crown winning racehorse Secretariat got to do with the ideals of America and lessons that can be learnt from this great accomplishment? Much can be, now let me explain.
We are witnessing right in front of our eyes the melting down of our country, the huge debts we are incurring, and the irresponsibility of our leaders, the bailouts, the removal of our freedoms because of so called fairness and the obfuscation of personal and government responsibility.
America was born out of a dream, innovation and an ideal of freedom that was achieved through grit and determination, even when the chips were stacked against its leaders and people. Today the American dream and psyche is deeply wounded, the innovating spirit is handicapped by a generation of an entitlement mentality. The chips are down and we need to shake ourselves out of this stupor.
On November 4, 2008 we chose as a nation to sell out on our fighting spirit as a winning nation, even the Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi thinks that “food stamps is the biggest bang for the buck,” is this what our country has become?
The founders believed in freedom but they also believed in something else, just as important and that was winning. For over seven years the colonists fought hard and against tremendous odds to win their independence and freedom from tyranny. Most of the founding leaders were not experienced warriors; they were farmers, professionals and merchants but they were determined to be free. They were willing to follow their dream and willing to sacrifice and allow the chips to fall were they lay. They gave their lives and their fortunes for that freedom and they won despite the odds. Just imagine today declaring war on the greatest super power with an inexperienced army, little resources but just the courage and tenacity to prevail.
Why today do we as a country have such an entitlement mentality? Why is our faith in our own abilities to face challenges been reduced to corporate and personal handouts? We need to hang our heads in shame; this is not America I emigrated to 20 years ago.
The owner of Secretariat, Penny Tweedy Chenery ironically was crippled by a six million dollar inheritance tax after she and her brother were left the horse farm by their father. The inheritance also included the mare that fouled Secretariat. Ms Chenery wished to continue the legacy of her parents and her dream to train a winning horse yet was left with a huge tax bill and no money to pay the IRS. The IRS death tax in itself is a crime against the American people but that is for a different article another time. Ms Chanery used her determination and innovation to sell a syndicate on the breeding rights of the untested horse with a performance clause that would have lost the ownership of the horse and possibly the farm. This she did just to give her the opportunity to have Secretariat compete in the three great races that comprise the legendary and elusive Triple Crown. Penny Tweedy Chenery could have easily taken the easy root, sold the farm, paid the taxes and be left in financial security for life.
Ms Chanery was a housewife with no experience in the horse racing business but she had a dream and wished to continue the great tradition of her family. For her it was not about a comfortable time with an easy bailout it was about fulfilling a dream, freedom and winning. If she could not win on her own terms then she would be satisfied where the chips lay. Her gritty determination gave her the shot at her dream. We all know now how everything turned out.
On Nov 2nd 2010 when we go to the polling stations we need to appreciate not just the freedoms that the founding fathers created for us but we need to return to becoming a proud and winning nation once again. When we cast that vote we also need to understand how each one of us can become winners or improve our performance in our chosen profession, we need to sacrifice with a goal to win. The way forward will be challenging but that makes the satisfaction of winning even greater.
Winning for oneself is also winning for our country and having self-interest provides others with jobs, a purpose and opportunities. Winning is creating conditions so we can all follow our dreams and having leaders who understand this ideal. Winning is allowing individuals to be able to make decisions for themselves and not be made for them by government bureaucrats. Winning is an American tradition, that is why America was great and that why it will be great again starting on midnight Nov 2nd when the winning American spirit will return from the folly of the phony slogan from the presidential campaign of 2008 of “Hope and Change.” Maybe a better slogan for this election is “American Freedom is for Winners.”
The American people are about to put us back on the right track. Thank you Disney for making the movie Secretariat, which showed me what the real ingredients needed to restore a once again great America. Our National anthem says we are the land of the free and the home of the brave; on Nov 2nd let us restore who we are.
Keith Davies
Executive Director Walid Shoebat Fdn
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)