Erstwhile Friends

 

Politics outweigh duty to allies.

The days of nations with a history of cooperation as allies has apparently come to a screeching halt. Disagreements on the environment, fair trade, and borders has led to leaders of erstwhile friendly nations to squabble and name call. Leaders of nations react with outrage when they are called out for neglecting their cooperative responsibilities. In politics, rhetoric should never be a cause for ruining long-standing relationships. Donald Trump can be very blunt and antagonistic, but relationships among nations cannot be adversely affected by personally disagreeable discourse. Nations can disagree and negotiate, but personal animosity cannot disrupt alliances or trade. European countries were quick to come to the aid of Denmark, sending a number of troops, after Trump's insistence that the US control this strategically important arctic island.

The Strait of Hormuz is a major shipping route for oil and LNG, with about 20% of the world supply passing through the narrow corridor. The United States receives less than 10% of its oil through the strait. Asian markets rely heavily on that shipping lane for their domestic energy supply. The Israeli/US strikes on Iran have led to a restricted flow of oil and LNG through the strait. The Strait of Hormuz is bordered by Iran on the east and ships have been reluctant to navigate the strait due to threats by Iran to attack ships passing through. President Trump has requested assistance from other countries to secure the Strait of Hormuz to enable the safe passage of oil tankers. The European Union has rejected calls to assist. Other countries that rely upon shipping through the strait have also refused to cooperate, even though it would be in their best interests.

For Europe, unfettered immigration from Muslim countries have left them vulnerable to the now large bloc of Muslim immigrants. These Muslim immigrants refuse to assimilate into their new country’s society and outright reject western culture. Muslim men are violent, committing sexual assaults on the women of the countries that welcomed them in. The governments of these nations are so afraid of the rising Muslim minority that they have enacted “hate speech” laws that prosecute those who call out the violence by Muslims. The perpetrators of Islamic terror in their streets continue without accountability. In other words, most European governments are afraid of the problem they created by welcoming those who reject western culture and harbor distain for those who are not followers of Islam.

What is truly interesting is that the Arab states are lining up to support the US/Israel operations in Iran. These states, which have been in the past, lukewarm to the US presence in the Gulf region and bristled at Israeli retaliatory strikes in the region. The Abraham Accords have reconfigured alliances among the Gulf States and opened productive dialog with Israel, the US, and other western nations. Several of the Gulf States have even expressed a desire to join in on the attacks on Iran, as they have been targeted with unprovoked missile attacks by the Iranian regime.

With the ICBM attack on the US military base in Diego Garcia, 4000 KM from Iran, many European capitals finally realize that they are within range of the Iranian regime, who care not who they attack. This has finally awakened the EU to the threat that this rouge regime poses to those who had refused previous calls from the US to assist and caused them to reconsider their position. The Iranian regime is a radical death cult, lashing out at any nation without regard to consequences. The Islamist clerics that rule are ruthless in their drive to maintain power as evidenced by the regime killing over 30,000 of their own people for engaging in anti-regime protests. This regime must fall to bring stability to the region and the world. Their military must be decimated. Their ability to manufacture weapons must be obliterated. Their designs on obtaining a nuclear weapon must be prevented, permanently, as they would not hesitate to use them.

Israel’s Operation “Roaring Lion” in conjunction with the US “Epic Fury,” looks to degrade the Iranian Regime to the point that Iran’s citizens will rise up and drive the Islamist extremists out of power. Israeli precision airstrikes have wiped out dozens of the regime’s military and clerical leaders. Iranians have been brutalized by these religious fanatics for over 47 years. Perhaps payback is in the cards. But whoever is now leading this oppressive regime refuses to surrender, lashing out indiscriminately at any country within reach of whatever weaponry they still possess.

The “global elite” in the EU need to realize just how important it is to support their allies, particularly the US. NATO would cease to exist and would be firmly in the crosshairs of Putin’s Russian army, as many of those nations barely maintain a semblance of an army. When your livelihood is imperiled by a rouge nation like Iran, it makes sense to support your friends in arms. The US request was not for our allies to engage in the actual conflict or to provide weaponry, just assistance with keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping. Which should be a no-brainer as Europe gets a substantial amount of their energy needs from the Gulf States.

Friends support one another. Friends do not deny their friends. Friends uphold their obligations, especially if that friend holds the key to their security.

 

Integration

 

Islam will not relent until all convert.

Funny how life can often be boiled down into Star Trek episode plot lines. Back to the Borg, the all-conquering aliens that will assimilate all cultures into their own. Islam is less a religion than it is a political ideology. Muslims have emigrated throughout the western world like locusts, rejecting each welcoming nation’s culture and refusing to integrate into society. Like the Borg, their end goal is to overcome all who refuse to accept their prophet Mohammed, acknowledge Allah as their god, and replace the current government with Islamic rule.

Sexual assaults in European nations that welcome Muslim immigrants have exploded, with Muslim rape gangs committing multiple offenses. Islam apparently relegates women to less than human status. The Quran (4:34) gives license for men to subjugate women and encourages husbands to use corporal punishment to ensure their obedience. So much for equality.

Islam rejects homosexuality outright and instructs its followers to stone or to kill those transgressors.  Quran 7:80-84 "...For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds.... And we rained down on them a shower (of brimstone)"

 "An account that is borrowed from the Biblical story of Sodom. Muslim scholars through the centuries have interpreted the "rain of stones" on the town as meaning that homosexuals should be stoned, since no other reason is given for the people's destruction." - The religionofpeace.com.

In 2025, followers of Islam, the alleged religion of peace, perpetrated 2010 attacks in 48 countries, killing 14004 and injuring 6653. So much for the religion of peace. Peace to Islam is simply uttering the phrase, “Peace be upon him.” But what of the moderate Muslims? They are few and far between and their failure to condemn violence in the name of Allah is deafening.

In the Middle Ages most Christians could not read. They depended upon Catholic priests to impart Biblical teachings to them. Their spiritual life was dependent upon Catholic church doctrine and traditions. Yet, mass was performed in Latin, a language few understood, until the 20^th century. It is not surprising that many wayward traditions, such as indulgences, arose during this time. Many Muslim clerics preach Islamism, a more radical and abhorrent interpretation of the Quran and how Muslims are to interact in society. This is how radicals are created and encouraged.

Islam instructs its followers to reject everything that makes western society and the United States unique. Tolerance is not to be offered, particularly to the non-believer. Muslims are using the freedoms of western society to overthrow the very nations that welcome them. Islam is antithetical to a free and open society.

The Bible encourages hospitality. It also advises to use wisdom to avoid thieves or those who would cause you or your family harm. One must apply discernment when offering charity, serving those who truly are in need.

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” - Galatians 6:10

As we open our nation to refugees, we must make certain to offer our freedoms to those who would accept them gratefully, agree to obey our laws, and integrate into society. Muslims that refuse should have our hospitality revoked and sent back to their country of origin. Muslims stand accused of defrauding US taxpayer of tens of $Billions. Yet their Quran (16:106, 3:54, 3:28) condones and even encourages dishonesty and deceitfulness when dealing with non-believers in order to gain their trust so that they can be defeated. The tenets of Islam do not comport with a civil society. The behaviors that it condones must be rejected. Islam is wedded to 7^th Century conduct that is wholly unacceptable today. Islam cannot and will not co-exist with our values.

Allowing Islam to grow and spread within this nation will ultimately concede our way of life to an Islamic theocracy. We need to look no further than the European nations that have opened their borders and have been overwhelmed by the Muslim horde. If Muslim have their way, the United States will be no more. Muslim clerics preach hate and denigrate the very nation offering them hospitality, yet we fail to understand the threat to this nation.

“They will devour your harvest and food; they will consume your sons and daughters; they will eat up your flocks and herds; they will feed on your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust.” – Jeremiah 5:17

 

Third World

 

Do what you do best?

When one escapes from a third world country, one can suffer culture shock and find it difficult to adjust. When one is accustomed to lawlessness, it can be difficult to adapt to a society guided by the rule of law. When one has lived without freedom, reacting to almost unlimited freedom can be challenging. When graft, corruption, and fraud is part and parcel of your life, assimilating into a society that values truth, justice, and hospitality can shake one to his core, unless, of course, you can utilize those skills to your advantage. Especially if your religion frowns upon the very principles that hold western society together and grants license to cheat, lie, and steal when dealing with unbelievers.

Far too many Muslims practice a perverted form of Islam, known as Islamism. Islamism exhorts its followers on a path of radical militancy. Islamism admonishes Muslims to forcibly “convert” non-believers and permits violence if they refuse. US foreign policy that attempted to impose western democracy on theocratic Middle Eastern Islamic societies failed miserably. Democracy is antithetical to Islam. In Islam theocracies religious leaders control government, institute religious law, and lead their armies. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of association that we take for granted are prohibited.

It is no surprise when Muslims refuse to assimilate into a culture that offers freedoms that are foreign and conflict with the tenets of the religion they practice. In other words, you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make them drink, especially if their Imam preaches that they should refuse to do so. This parallels liberals that flee democrat, poorly governed cities and states that enact policies that are detrimental to them. While they seek refuge in Republican, well governed states, they often continue to foolishly vote for democrats in their new homes.

Somali Muslims in Minnesota and other states stand accused of running fraud schemes that could result in tens of $Billions of taxpayer funds lost. Quran 3:54 - "And they (the disbelievers) schemed, and Allah schemed (against them): and Allah is the best of schemers." “The Arabic word used here for scheme (or plot) is makara, which means 'cunning,' 'guile' and 'deceit'. If Allah is supremely deceitful toward unbelievers, then there is little basis for denying that Muslims are allowed to do the same.” From Thereligionofpeace.com. Islam permits or encourages followers to engage in deception as a means to defeat the enemy, or non-believers. Islam is simply a false religion. There is no other way to justify a religion that promotes that type of behavior toward your fellow man.

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6. Christians are called to bring the lost to Christ in the Great Commission. Lying, cheating, and stealing is prohibited. Violence is abhorrent to our God and Creator. God is a God of love, not hate. Because of the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we want others to come to Christ in order to receive the joy of salvation that we are so grateful for. We do not hate or disparage non-believers; we are especially called to not to judge those who are lost. There is no call to punish unbelievers on this side of eternity. God wants every single one of His children to come to Him of their own volition. But those who choose to reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will have no place in His kingdom. It is the choice of the individual to believe or not.

Has the will of God been perverted by His church? Absolutely! It continues to this day. But the tenets of faith, as attested in the Bible, are clear, convincing, and most importantly, true. God’s will is perfect. Man’s religion is not. Obedience brings us closer to Him. Islam requires obedience and imposes earthly consequences on those who fail to obey. God sent His only Son to take upon all our sins, suffer the fate that we deserved, and rose from the dead, ensuring all believers a path to salvation. Salvation is gained by faith alone. God’s word is Scripture alone.

Every day democrats raise the alarm that Christianity and conservative values are an existential threat to our democracy! The true threat to democracy is tacitly supporting the institution of Muslim authority. DNI Tulsi Gabbard recently decried the growing influence of Islam in several cities, including in Paterson, New Jersey. This prompted Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) to accuse Gabbard of Islamophobia and to defend the Muslim residents of that city. Too bad he could not get so fired up over the antisemitic and anti-Christian rhetoric emanating from he and his party. Paterson has seen a large uptick in crimes against persons. Paterson, NJ has crime rates higher than 93.4% of other cities in the US. Their Muslim mayor declared Paterson the capital of Palestine during Ramadan this year. Perhaps Senator Booker should be more concerned about confronting crime in his state.

We are called to love our neighbor as ourselves. That command carries great weight and responsibility. Islam is not another path to salvation. Islam views Jesus Christ as a prophet, not the Son of God and does not recognize His resurrection. Without Jesus, followers of Islam will not receive salvation. In our interactions, led by Christian love, we must realize that fact. As with any non-believer, we must reach out in Christian love until all have heard. Partnering with the Islamic faith should be undertaken with the realization that they are as lost as unbelievers. Plant the seeds of faith. Do not be afraid to proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior. God wants all His children to dwell with Him through eternity. Treating Islam as another valid path to God only puts your neighbor at odds with Him.

Jesus said, “Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life. Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.” John 5:22-27

 

 

Lost

 

Evil shapes a generation.

In the 2011 film, “the Adjustment Bureau,” Matt Damon and Emily Blunt are cast as star crossed lovers. A group of “Angels?” influence people to live their lives according to the “Plan” created by the “Chairman.” The “Plan” was to prevent the two from establishing a relationship, but unfortunately Damon discovers their intent and rebels. Spoiler alert, eventually the “Chairman” relents and alters the “Plan” so that Damon and Blunt can live happily ever after. Life is often portrayed as so simple in Hollywood movies, but at times it does loosely mirror reality. This movie is Hollywood’s attempt to show that the “Chairman” (God) has a “Plan” (which eliminates free will) that preordains the outcomes of our lives.

While everything that happens is part of the plan God has for this world, free will allows humans to deviate from God’s preferred outcome. Rest assured that everything that happens, good or bad, God uses to temper and mold His children. And we are all children of God. All are loved unconditionally by the creator of the universe, even those who commit heinous acts against their fellow brothers and sisters. No one is inherently evil, but anyone can be influenced by the evil one. God wants all His children to be saved. No matter what you do, you cannot make God love you any more, nor can you make Him love you any less than He already does.

Unfortunately, a generation has been unduly influenced by the evil one with gleeful assistance from academia, mainstream media, and, of course, all coordinated by the left as they strive to accomplish Satan’s preferred “plan.” Satan’s plan is simple, deceive and mislead. Encourage humankind to replace truth with lies. Exchange good for evil. Yet, there are those so gullible as to accept that which is undeniably false as right and good. Young people, indoctrinated by public education decry the freedoms provided by our Constitutional Republic while supporting socialism and all other manner of leftist ideology. Murdering an unborn child becomes abortion. Children are encouraged to experiment with transsexuality and homosexuality by leftist public teachers, without parental notification. See a pattern developing here?

Successfully tempting humankind to engage in sin is as simple as when the serpent deceived Eve. Become like God and make your own rules. If it feels good, do it. Sexual pleasure is the prize Satan offers to humankind to engage in and enjoy. And it has been successful beyond his wildest dreams. Homosexuality becomes normalized and celebrated. Transvestites are now drag queens and engage in story time, invited to public libraries and schools to read books to children in their full, over the top costumes. Sexual “hook ups” are promoted through dating apps to engage in “no strings attached” sexual trysts. Unwed mothers and baby mamas replace the nuclear family in the inner city. Pornography is a multi-billion-dollar industry.

God is a loving God, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness. Satan thrives on anger and hatred. The left is filled with rage and hatred. Perfect pawns for the evil one. Antifa, Black Lives Matter, Palestine “Hamas” supporters, and anti-Ice are committing violence that fills Satan with delight. Despite rampant violence, democrat party leaders stoke that anger with over-the-top rhetoric directed at their political opponents with the intent to create havoc. Weak-minded individuals have and will continue to act out in violence, incited to do so by democrat leaders who apparently view this as a valid strategy to gain and/or maintain power.

The democrat party has hitched their wagon to the evil that leftism promotes. The refusal of democrats to vote for a continuing resolution to fund the government should tell you all you need to know about the objectives of that wayward party. When illegal aliens are more important than American citizens demonstrates that democrats have failed in their responsibility to represent those who voted them to represent them in Congress, State, and local government.

The only way to end this insanity is to remove from office those democrats that support this madness. The only way to return to the path God desires is to get involved and support leaders who love God. The only way to eliminate this rot from our nation is to vote democrats out of elected office. That is the only way they will relent from this recklessness and return to a semblance of normalcy.

“If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first. / It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them.” 2 Peter 2:20-22

The democrat party has left the Lord and has decided to be in league with Satan. But their rebuke of God’s will can be reversed. They can accept God’s plan and reject Satan. Unless they return to God, they must be shunned and removed from power. Perhaps then they will see the error of their ways.

Community

 

Hatred thrives in on-line solitude.

Human beings need community. Civilization developed to nurture that personal connection. Prolonged solitude turns the soul inward, toward selfishness. Without discussion and debate, we villainize those with values different than our own. Our faith is what drives our very being. Our God created us with an emptiness that can only be filled with an intimate relationship with Him. Corporate worship and Bible study offers us the opportunity to grow together in the Spirit. “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:19-20

The lack of face-to-face interactions, instead relying upon the anonymity of device-to-device communication, has afforded users to avoid social interaction. Hiding behind a screen allows one to denounce and attack opposing viewpoints, without actual consequence, and enables animosity to fester. News feeds, X posts, and other social media are tailored by algorithms to each user’s preferences, presenting information that supports the user’s opinions, further isolating them from differing opinions. It has become effortless to foster hate by hiding facts that prevent one from learning both sides of issues. In fact, by filtering out competing news, the full truth is silenced while one side of the argument is amplified.

Incessant rhetoric from the left has increasingly raised the temperature in our political discourse. Democrat party leaders pour gasoline on the fire of division with comments likening their political rivals to Hitler, tyrants, and accuse them of opposition to any other “oppressed” class. Political leaders that stoke division and promote hate must be rejected at the ballot box if they fail to return to God. The constant drumbeat that villainizes those with Christian and conservative values has created tribal warfare as an acceptable response to settle disagreements. There are those who have become so radicalized by hateful leftist ideology that contemplating and/or committing violence has become a viable option.

Charlie Kirk literally accepted Jesus’ call to the Great Commission, to make disciples of the world. He engaged in debate with those who hated him because of his faith and political opinion. Through his platform, Turning Point USA, he literally entered the lion’s den of leftism to respectfully preach the Gospel and truly listen to those who disagreed, while doing his best to reach out with a sincere love of his neighbor.  Charlie was able to plant seeds of faith throughout the universities in which he preached. As democrat leaders mischaracterized, no, willfully lied about Charlie and his views and speech, people believed those lies. And those lies inspired a weak-minded individual to end Charlie’s debate forever with a bullet. We cannot let an assassin’s bullet silence and end the work that Charlie engaged in as he obediently preached the Gospel with the love of Jesus in his heart.

If we fail to engage those who have been unduly influenced by the evil advocated by leftist ideology, they will be lost forever. As Christians it is our duty spread the love of Jesus by preaching the Gospel, unashamedly. “And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.  He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.  Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26.

We have God’s handbook to assist us in performing His will. The Bible contains all the ammunition necessary to speak His Truth. Read it daily. Learn it. Pray on it. Study it with other believers. We can no longer be meek and quiet. We can no longer stand by and let evil overtake our brothers and sisters. No matter how lost our brothers and sisters may become, God loves them unconditionally, just as he loves each of us. There is nothing we can do to make God love us any more. There is nothing that we can do to make God love us any less. We have a duty to proclaim God’s love to the world so that none are lost to the evil one. Plant the seeds that just may encourage them to return to community of faith. Be bold and courageous, armed with the Holy Spirit that dwells within all of us.

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:11-12, 18