Downward spiral or upward allegiance?

I wanted to write something about the current violence in the Middle East, but where to begin? I do understand that Israel needs to protect its borders, but personally I think that their military actions in Lebanon are a) disproportional and b) counterproductive (i.e. making more innocent victims, killing more soldiers on all sides of this conflict and causing more hatred everywhere in the region). However, it is very easy for me to judge such a complex conflict – sitting in my lazy chair in Holland. The situation is just too complicated for easy answers and even the brightest diplomats seem to have no solutions. I just feel so sorry for all the men, women and children in Israel and Lebanon and I can only pray for peace.

Talking about violence, war and peace issues… I just visited Scot McKnight’s Jesus Creed blog and was intrigued by this thought-provoking question he is posing:

Had the Apostle Paul lived to see the war of Rome with Israel in 66-73 AD, what would he have done? Here are some considerations:

I ask this consideration: Paul was not a soldier, but let’s put him either in that position or in the position, which is far more likely, to have been advising new Roman citizen Christians or Christians living in the Land of Israel.
1. Would he have fought on Rome’s side against Israel? (Citizenship duty.)
2. Would he have fought on Israel’s side against Rome? (Faith over citizenship.)
3. Would he have chosen not to fight because he was torn between two nations? (Pragmatics.)
4. Would he have chosen not to fight because he thought Christians should be concerned with the kingdom of God and the preaching and living out of the gospel? (Some kind of Christian pacifism.)

Personally my answer would be: 4. Paul was a Jew born in a Hellenistic environment (Turkey), but he also happened to be a Roman citizen. Yes, in many ways he was truly a man ‘of this world’ and I think these qualifications helped him to bring the Gospel throughout the Mediterranean area. But Paul only claimed these religious, cultural and national ‘identities’ if this turned out to be useful for the progress of the Gospel. Paul was first and foremost fighting a spiritual battle and I personally believe that he would always try to avoid physical violence. That certainly doesn’t mean that Paul was a coward, because physically he suffered enormously due to his courageous proclamation of the Good News (just read these words from 2 Corinthians 11:23-30).

There are already many interesting comments on Scot’s posting and I didn’t feel that I needed to add one more of my own. I fully agree with a comment posted by Kenny Chee - “I think Paul was a man consumed with a passion to preach the Gospel in regions where Christ is yet unknown. He would choose option 4, and be focused and faithful to the heavenly call and upward allegiance. As to what he would advise Christians on both sides of the conflict, he would probably ask them to follow their conscience and seek what would lead to peace of all men, something the leaders of both sides of the present conflict in Lebanon would do well to heed.”

No arms, no legs, no worries!

Twenty-three years ago his parents had planted a church in Australia. Six months later his mother delivered him. "The last two words on my parents' minds was 'Praise God.'"

Doctors had no explanation. His birth was considered a tragedy. The whole church mourned. No one could see any good coming out of a boy being born with no arms or legs.
As he grew up, he alternately doubted God existed – questioning what sort of a God would do such a nasty thing – or he was angry at God for the same reason.
He remembers reading a Biblical verse in Sunday school which purported that he was created in the image of God. "And I'm like, 'Yeah, riiight."
When he was 10, when the teasing was unbearable, he wished he was dead. He fantasized about asking his parents to put him on a kitchen stool -- and then he could "fall" off and, he hoped, break his neck.
When he couldn't bring himself to end it all, he begged God to let him grow arms and legs -- for God's benefit, of course. (A modern-day miracle! Think of how many people you could convert!)
It never happened. But he began to realize that maybe he didn't need to grow arms and legs for his life to mean something. Maybe his accomplishments were enough of a miracle.
He can walk/hop almost anywhere (including up steps), using his only foot. And he can type with his only two toes (43 words a minute, thank you very much). He is brave enough to plunge into pools, trusting he will bob to the surface where he paddles around on his back using his foot as a paddle. And he writes, gets dressed and opens doors with his mouth.
He began to realize he was impressive, if not downright inspirational.
At 15, Nick officially thanked God that he was alive. At 17, he gave his first talk to a prayer group. The requests to speak snowballed. And now, at 23, that's all he does. His nonprofit is called Life Without Limbs.

"It turns out having no arms and legs has gotten me into some doors I would not have been able to walk through."

Read the entire news article about Nick here - also have a look at the amazing video on that website (it only works if you have Flash). And here you can read all about this amazing man: Nick Vujicic's website

Question: Do you believe God is able to use you and me - despite our so called 'problems' and 'shortcomings' ?

The Chinese church is experiencing persecution and exponential growth

In China we are probably seeing the biggest revival in world history...

“Despite on-going persecution, the Chinese church is experiencing exponential growth. China is probably experiencing the biggest revival in World history and Tony Lambert, former British diplomat to Beijing and Tokyo, explains why. A gripping collection of stories, photographs, facts and maps, this comprehensive guide will help you see the triumph as well as the cost of the Chinese revival.”

Please have a look at this site and make sure that you find out what is going on in (the church of) China right now! As a Publisher at Ark Boeken Amsterdam I have been working on the Dutch edition of this book that will be published in September. Dutch title: China voor Christus (China for Christ) (published in close co-operation with OMF International).

In 2008 Beijing will host the Olympic Games and of course the Chinese government will try to make a good impression on the world. China has many reasons to be a proud country... but there are also things to be very ashamed of. Just some cases that need to be exposed:--------- -

• Zhao Yu who was a New York Times correspondent and is now imprisoned in China, and may not receive a fair trial.
• Chen Guangcheng who is a blind rights activist and was detained Sept. 6th, 2005 for exposing violence against women in the name of family planning policies. His wife and mother were also kidnapped and their locations are still unknown.
• Wu Hao was in the processes of making a documentary in China about the persecuted church and was thrown in jail for it. He was just released on July 11, 2006.
• Jiang Zongxiu, who was martyred by beaten to death for carrying scripture. Her family has not seen any justice as her remains are still in the hands of the government and her abusers are still free.
• Pastor Cai Zhuohua who is in Chinese prison today for being accused of printing Bibles. Pastor Cai’s wife is also in prison while their 5 year old son is living with grandparents.
• Pastor Zhang Rongliang was sentenced to 7 and a half years imprisonment on July 4, 2006 after he was arrested on December 1, 2004 for his leadership in the House Church movement.
  
  PrisonerAlert.com recently stated, “Religious persecution by the government appears to be increasing as the Olympics are approaching.” Source

Please also visit Persecution Blog from Voice of the Martyrs

Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament

"I vividly remember the first time I seriously confronted Isaiah 53, or better still, the first time it seriously confronted me, " Barry explains. "Being rather confused over the identity of the Servant in Isaiah 53, I went to my local rabbi and said to him, "Rabbi, I have met some people at school who claim that the so-called Servant in Isaiah 53 is none other than Jesus of Nazareth. But I would like to know from you, who is this Servant in Isaiah 53?"

Barry was astonished at his response. The rabbi said: "Barry, I must admit that as I read Isaiah 53 it does seem to be talking about Jesus, but since we Jews do not believe in Jesus, it can't be speaking about Jesus."

Barry didn't know a lot about formal logic at that point, but he knew enough to say to himself, "That just doesn't sound kosher to me! Not only does the rabbi's so-called reasoning sound circular, it also sounds evasive and even fearful." Today Barry observes, "There are none who are as deaf as those who do not want to hear." (From: Geisler & Turek - I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, p. 332).

Barry Leventhal is the Academic Dean at Southern Evangelical Seminary where he has taught since 1997. The grandson of Orthodox Jews who immigrated from Russia and Hungary, he was raised in a Conservative Jewish home in Southern California. As a student at UCLA, Barry was co-captain of the 1965 UCLA Football Team, which won the Rose Bowl in January 1966. Also active in the band, he was graduated as a Blue Key Honor Graduate. Most significantly, however, as a senior, Barry came to faith in Jesus as his personal Lord, Messiah, and Savior through the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ.
Source: Pasche Institute of Jewish Studies

What goes up... and "the laws of the heavens"

"Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion. God governs all things and knows all that is or can be done."* Sir Isaac Newton

"Truth is discovered, not invented. It exists independent of anyone's knowledge of it. Gravity existed prior to Newton." Norman L. Geisler & Frank Turek
I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist

* I've nicked this from Matt Tullos (please check out his blog) who in turn borrowed it from Sir Isaac Newton. Of course we all need to give credit to our Creator - because He is truly original!

"Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs?
Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God's dominion over the earth?" Please read this entire Chapter from the book of Job in the Bible...

Listen to Sean!

Sean Dietrich left this comment on my blog some time ago...

Hey, I really enjoy your blog! Thanks for your honest heart and truthfulness, it is refreshing to hear someone be real. Its cool to read about real people who serve Jesus. I am a musician, and I would be honored if you would check out my music. All music on my site is free for download. Anyway, don't want to be a pest, I just thought that I'd share. Thanks,-Sean

I appreciate it when people from all over the world respond to my thoughts and writings, so I checked out Sean's website to find out more about him. I listened to his music and I really liked his voice and lyrics. His style reminded me of Keith Green - especially when I listened to Sean's song Just Plain Nuts After reading these words from Sean's bio, it was clear that Keith Green indeed is one of his musical heroes...

I've played the piano since I was 9, guitar since I was 12, and been singing since I can remember. I am self-taught on all instruments.

My father committed suicide when I was 12, so I used music as an escape from the hurt that accompanied me. Many times I would play the piano for 8 hours a day in solitude.

I met the Lord working on the beach one summer as a beach attendant/life-guard. The Father simply revealed himself to me one day in a personal way that I will never forget. I repented of my sins and he changed me completely.

Within the very first week that I decided to follow Jesus, I discovered some music by an artist named Keith Green. His music was very instrumental in my life, always challenging me with such honest lyrics. Inspired by such honest and challenging music, I immediately began writing songs about following Jesus. Music is something I love, especially if it is helping people by pointing them to Jesus.

Isn't that a great testimony? I just want to praise God for people like Sean and I also praise my Creator for being such a loving Father to the fatherless. Check out Sean's site and download his music FOR FREE! (Yes, I am Dutch).

Some other blogs that I recommend

On the right hand side of this weblog you can find a list of blogs that I recommend. Here are two 'new' blogs that I added to my blogroll:

Bagamoyo by Daniel de Wolf from Rotterdam, the Netherlands (only in Dutch, sorry...)
Cori'Blog (Cori lives in Pretoria, South Africa)

I just want to share this poem from Cori with you. I've copied only the first lines, so you have to visit her blog if you want to read the complete poem. I was really moved by it.

Be blessed and be a blessing!

You Are Mine

In this weary land
there is so little hope
In this wilderness of abandonment
where one tired step after another
only imprint again and again aloneness
in the vast multitude of humanity

The RAGE
It holds all the inward parts of me tightly
in a hard grip at the core of my being
so tight I…can…hardly…breathe
The RAGE
Of Betrayal
Nobody told me, warned me, prepared me.
My world: a light place, a happy place
The world: a cruel place, a hateful place
I played with my dolls while she was played with.

Read Cori's complete poem here

Thanks for dropping by, everybody!

Apathic ignorance

We sometimes ask our students, "What's the greatest problem in America today? Is it ignorance or is it apathy?" One time a student answered: "I don't know, and I don't care!"

Norman Geisler & Frank Turek - I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, p. 66

One Solitary Life

Let us turn now to the story. A child is born in an obscure village. He is brought up in another obscure village. He works in a carpenter shop until he is thirty, and then for three brief years is an itinerant preacher, proclaiming a message and living a life. He never writes a book. He never holds an office. He never raises an army. He never has a family of his own. He never owns a home. He never goes to college. He never travels two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He gathers a little group of friends about him and teaches them his way of life. While still a young man, the tide of popular feeling turns against him. One denies him; another betrays him. He is turned over to his enemies. He goes through the mockery of a trial; he is nailed to a cross between two thieves, and when dead is laid in a borrowed grave by the kindness of a friend.
Those are the facts of his human life. He rises from the dead. Today we look back across nineteen hundred years and ask, What kind of trail has he left across the centuries? When we try to sum up his influence, all the armies that ever marched, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned are absolutely picayune in their influence on mankind compared with that of this one solitary life…

This is the original essay by Dr James Allan Francis in “The Real Jesus and Other Sermons” © 1926 by the Judson Press of Philadelphia (pp 123-124 titled “Arise Sir Knight!”). Graham Pockett

Yet I Will Praise You

I just love this song...
You can listen here (MP3).
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I will praise you, Lord my God
Even in my brokeness
I will praise you Lord
I will praise you, Lord my God
Even in my desperation
I will praise you Lord

And I can't understand
All that you allow
I just can't see the reason
but my life is in your hands
and though I cannot see you
I choose to trust you

Even when my heart is torn
I will trust you Lord
Even when I feel deserted
I will trust you Lord
Even in the darkest valley
I will trust you Lord
and when it seems all hope is gone
yet I will praise you Lord

I will trust you Lord my God
Even in my loneliness
I will trust you Lord
And I will not forget
that you hung on a cross
Lord you bled and died for me
and if I have to suffer
I know that you've been there
and I know that you're here now

W&M by Andy Park/© 1999 Vineyard Music Canada

Hopeless cases

Some time ago I did an interview with Tony Anthony (read more about him in recent postings). Tony has an incredible testimony to share. He is a former World Champion Kung Fu (three times), he used to be a top bodyguard - but he also became a murderer, a thief and a convicted criminal... His life completely changed when he came to know the Master Carpenter who is able to restore everything and who will make all things new!

I asked Tony: 'Do you believe that there are any hopeless cases?' I expected him to say, 'No, look at me - I was so far away from God, but still He was able to save me!' But this was not his answer. Instead Tony said something that really humbled me and made me think. 'We are all hopeless cases. Without Christ we are all completely lost,' Tony answered...

Yes, this is something to ponder upon... And it is also a message of hope: God's arms can reach you, even if you feel that you are too far away from him to be rescued. He is only a prayer away - just call upon the name of Jesus and He will be there for you.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

...and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations... Luke 24:47 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. Acts 10:43 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Rom. 8:1,2 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 1 John 2:12

Is that good news or what!?

Yes, Lord Jesus - I really am a hopeless case without you. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for being my friend! I just can't be silent about this. Please Lord, help me to share the good news of forgiveness of sins with as many people as possible. Amen

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What a friend I've found

Closer than a brother

I have felt your touch

More intimate than lovers

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Jesus, Jesus

Jesus, friend forever

What a hope I've found

More faithful than a mother

It would break my heart

To ever lose each other

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Jesus, Jesus
Jesus, friend forever

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Written by Martin Smith ©1996 Curious? Music UK

Open your eyes

"Would it not be strange if a universe without a purpose accidentally created humans who are so obsessed with purpose?" - John Templeton

After reading this, I just had to think about the following Bible texts... If you are seriously searching for answers, please try to discover God's truth in the Bible. Read with an open mind and ask God to open your eyes and your heart as well!

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Rom. 1:20-21

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Cor. 4:18

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Heb. 11:3

* Thanks to Joshua for sharing this thought-provoking quote from John Templeton with me!

More committed women like Ruth, more kind redeemers like Boaz!

Ruth said to Naomi, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."

Boaz said to Ruth, "My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls. Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled."


Interested? Feel free to read my weekly Monday Boosters devotional prayer here...

Eternity is a very long time to be wrong ...

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Ps. 16:11

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Ps. 139:24

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Eccl. 3:11

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. Isaiah 40:28

I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. John 6:47

At least give it some thought! Find out more here and here or drop me a line.