There is a message in this song for everyone. No matter how hard the going seems to be on occasion, just keep on trying and never give up. If you stumble and fall as you make your way on life's wonderful journey, pick yourself up and start over again. Follow your dreams and ambitions, and carry on believing, no matter what. Yolanda Adams sings Never Give Up with a great deal of emotion. Find it on iTunes to download here.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Sorting out the truth from the lies. A Christian women converted from Islam speaks out.
If You Convert You Die
By Nonie Darwish
Very few people in the West know what is going on inside the Muslim world and what it portends for them. The fact is that through the dominant media, such as CNN, Americans are subjected to much of the same misinformation with regard to Islam that I grew up with inside the Muslim world. The result is that Americans are in the dark attempting to formulate their strategy of how to defend themselves against the threat of terror, domestic jihad and Sharia. While Americans get ridiculed for being “Islamophobes,” the Muslim world itself is undergoing a huge and painful awakening.
For instance, a prominent Egyptian lawyer and women’s rights activist, Nagla Al Imam, recently announced her conversion to Christianity in Cairo, Egypt. The announcement brought shock waves in and beyond Egypt. This is perhaps the first case ever of its kind, where a Muslim woman, who is also a Sharia expert, has openly challenged Islamic apostasy laws from within the Muslim world.
Ms. Al Imam’s incredible courage was on display in an internet chat room, where she announced that she is not afraid, will stand up for the human rights of apostates and refuses to leave her homeland, Egypt. This was immediately followed by attacks and calls (‘fatwas’) for death of the 36 year-old graduate of Al Azhar Islamic University.
Egyptian media not only reported the threat but also participated in the attacks. Ms. Al Imam was literally entrapped by a TV station ‘Al Mihwar’ with the pretext of inviting her for an interview. Upon arrival to the TV studio she was told the show she was to appear on was cancelled. She was then taken forcibly to a room where she was held against her will for hours inside the studio. She was assaulted, threatened and insulted by several people. She was able to escape, and went to her internet chat room telling the world what happened and said she will demand protection from the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Such action is common not only against apostates but anyone who deviates from the dictates of Islam or demands reform. Many Muslim journalists, intellectuals and feminists who consider themselves Muslims but are critical of Sharia are often intimidated, threatened or even killed for the slightest independent views using the apostasy card to keep them quiet.
Another recent case in Egypt is that of a brilliant intellectual by the name of Sayed Mahmoud El Qemany. He was recently accused of apostasy even though he denied it on TV and insisted he is still a Muslim. But fatwas of death were immediately issued against him. Mr. El Qemany recently wrote the following:
“I was granted the State Award for Social Sciences, on June 25th 2009. The hard-line radical militant groups considered that the state has adopted this intellectual secular trend officially, infuriating the mentioned group which called on the State to withdraw the prize with the declaration of my defection from Islam and excommunication which means in our country, I could be slain; any citizen is allowed to kill me and be awarded by God in Paradise. The following parties have participated in the statements of atonement:
1 - Al-Azhar Scholars Front headed by Yahya Ismail Habloush, which issued the first statement of atonement on July 10, 2009.
2 – The Islamic Group (condemned terrorist group) issued a statement of atonement on July 10, 2009.
3 - The Muslim Brotherhood hailed the atonement, and were presented at the parliament by Hamdi Hassan requesting the withdrawal of the award and the declaration of religious-defection and excommunication on July 7, 2009. The Muslim Brotherhood also declared my excommunication on Mohwar Channel on July 11, 2009 and on Al Faraeen Channel on July 13, 2009.
4 - The Salafi (Fundamentalist) Group (condemned terrorist group) dedicated its Internet site named "The Egyptians" for excommunicating me and incitements to kill me, since the date of obtaining the prize until today.
5 – Al Nas channel, which represents the theoretical side of bloody terrorism which declared excommunication and demanded “all citizens who can” to kill me immediately, on July 24 and 25, 2009.
6 - The Hisbah Sheikh Youssef Al Badri in Egypt declared on the channel "ON TV" on July 3, 2009 that I have cursed God and the Prophet Mohammad in my books even though I have challenged him and others to refer to a single text written by me where such claims were made. Due to this proclamation, he has issued an incitement to kill me.
7 - A member of the Al-Azhar scholars, Sheikh Mohammed El Berry, on Mihwar TV Channel on July 11, 2009 announced my atonement as he also said that he did not read any of my writings since he does not read "garbage”. He repeated the same words on the channel "ON TV" on July 22, 2009.
8 - Sheikh Ali Gomaa, the former Chairman of the “State Religious Affairs Advisory Board”, issued a statement declaring my infidelity and calling for slaying me for "insulting the Prophet of Islam, the God of Islam” on July 24, 2009.
9 - The Sheiks of more than 5000 mosques on Friday prayers on July 24, 2009 declared the incitement to kill me, especially in my hometown, which led to the rampage against my family and relatives, and that could possibly evolve to some serious consequences in the coming weeks.
Due to the above, I call upon the conscience of all humanity in the free world to come to me and my children’s rescue by providing moral support and the condemnation and denunciation of the radical thinking with quick solutions to save us from the danger that is luring around us. This is a distress call to all bodies and individuals. A call to the consciences of every free individual in the world.
Signed: Sayed Mahmoud El Qemany- Researcher.”
In spite of the cover up, this is perhaps the first time in the history of Islam that Muslims finally have access to the truth about their own religion, thanks to the Internet and satellite dishes (invented by infidels). There are daily news reports of heart-broken Muslims who say they cannot believe what is written in Muslim scriptures and say that Muslims have been living under the greatest lie in human history. Others simply deny and say that it can’t be so. While Saudi Arabia is spending billions to Islamize the West, many Muslim prisoners of Islamic submission are dying or leaving the religion quietly.
The relatively few number of Muslims who dare to convert to Christianity do it in extreme secrecy. That is because the penalty for leaving Islam is death in all schools of Sharia, both Sunni and Shiite. Those who wrote Sharia centuries ago knew that keeping Muslims in total submission would be very difficult to maintain, and thus they established barbaric laws condemning Muslims to death for exercising their basic human rights to choose their own religion. Sharia never entrusted its enforcement only to the formal legal system. Islam promises heavenly rewards to individual Muslims who take the law into their own hands. Sharia also states that the killers of apostates and adulterers are not murderers and therefore are not to be punished. That is why, for Islam to achieve 100% compliance to Sharia enforcement, Muslim individuals are encouraged to take matters into their own hands.
The end result is a chaotic society where everything happens behind closed doors but at a very heavy price to interpersonal relationships. Fear and distrust of others exists in all Muslim societies. Muslims are not just distrustful of the West, but they are distrustful of one another. In Muslim society, people are often more afraid of their neighbors and family members than of the police. Thus, we see husbands or fathers pressured to apply Sharia by killing an adulterous wife or daughter, or a perfect stranger participate in the killing of an apostate in the public square. Very few get arrested or punished for such crimes across the Muslim world. The ingenious Sharia uses vigilante street justice to bring about Islamic submission. That is why civil unrest and honor crimes go wherever Islam goes. The power of Islam comes from turning Muslim against Muslim -- with a reward in heaven.
The above two examples of Islamic tyranny are not unique to Egypt, but exist in all Muslim countries. Islamic tyranny is encapsulated in a law that some Muslims claim to be their religious right in America. Many American citizens who left Islam are living in constant fear from Islamist individuals and groups right here, in the land of the free and home of the brave. I am one of them.
A Call to Anguish - David Wilkerson
I believe that every Christian would benefit from listening to this. What more can I say?
Isaiah 28: Jerusalem's True and False Hopes
Ephraim represents the Northern Kingdom of Israel, ruled over by a reign of evil kings. When Israel split into two following Solomon's reign, Jerusalem ended up in the southern kingdom. Leaders in the northern kingdom, wishing to remain completely separate from the south, set up idols in order to keep the people from going to worship in the Temple at Jerusalem. By these means the people in the north were led into idolatry, and Isaiah gives them this message to warn them, as well as urging Judah to encourage them to repent before being punished as the northern kingdom would be in the future.
The people suffered the results of their pride, and arrogance, believing that they were being spoken down to, as a teacher to his pupils, and thought that they should make up their own minds. Isaiah prophesies that, because of this attitude, the Assyrians would teach them in an even more unpopular manner. Instead of placing their trust in God, the Judeans turned to other sources for security. God accuses them of making a covenant with death, possibly a reference to Hezekiah's alliance with Pharoah Tirhaka against Assyria (Isaiah 37:9).
In verse 16 to 22 we find the promise of Jesus Christ as the only foundation of hope for escaping the wrath to come. Christ is the corner-stone, the foundation for all of our hope, just as applicable to us today. The only One who can assure us of lasting protection is God, which He doe through Christ. Isaiah warns that it is foolish to rely on your own righteousness because it will always fall short.
The analogy is drawn in verses 23 to 29 between farming methods and the manner of caring for people. The farmer uses special tools both to plant and to harvest delicate herbs in order that they will not be damaged or destroyed, and in the same way God takes the individual weaknesses of people into account, dealing with each of us sensitively. The lesson for us is that we should be the same when we are dealing with other people, being sensitive to their individual needs and the special treatment that those needs demand if we are to treat others in the correct manner.
.
1 Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards,
to the fading flower, his glorious beauty,
set on the head of a fertile valley—
to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine!
2 See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong.
Like a hailstorm and a destructive wind,
like a driving rain and a flooding downpour,
he will throw it forcefully to the ground.
3 That wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards,
will be trampled underfoot.
4 That fading flower, his glorious beauty,
set on the head of a fertile valley,
will be like figs ripe before harvest—
as soon as people see them and take them in hand,
they swallow them.
The people suffered the results of their pride, and arrogance, believing that they were being spoken down to, as a teacher to his pupils, and thought that they should make up their own minds. Isaiah prophesies that, because of this attitude, the Assyrians would teach them in an even more unpopular manner. Instead of placing their trust in God, the Judeans turned to other sources for security. God accuses them of making a covenant with death, possibly a reference to Hezekiah's alliance with Pharoah Tirhaka against Assyria (Isaiah 37:9).
In verse 16 to 22 we find the promise of Jesus Christ as the only foundation of hope for escaping the wrath to come. Christ is the corner-stone, the foundation for all of our hope, just as applicable to us today. The only One who can assure us of lasting protection is God, which He doe through Christ. Isaiah warns that it is foolish to rely on your own righteousness because it will always fall short.
The analogy is drawn in verses 23 to 29 between farming methods and the manner of caring for people. The farmer uses special tools both to plant and to harvest delicate herbs in order that they will not be damaged or destroyed, and in the same way God takes the individual weaknesses of people into account, dealing with each of us sensitively. The lesson for us is that we should be the same when we are dealing with other people, being sensitive to their individual needs and the special treatment that those needs demand if we are to treat others in the correct manner.
.
1 Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards,
to the fading flower, his glorious beauty,
set on the head of a fertile valley—
to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine!
2 See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong.
Like a hailstorm and a destructive wind,
like a driving rain and a flooding downpour,
he will throw it forcefully to the ground.
3 That wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards,
will be trampled underfoot.
4 That fading flower, his glorious beauty,
set on the head of a fertile valley,
will be like figs ripe before harvest—
as soon as people see them and take them in hand,
they swallow them.
5 In that day the Lord Almighty
will be a glorious crown,
a beautiful wreath
for the remnant of his people.
6 He will be a spirit of justice
to the one who sits in judgment,
a source of strength
to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
will be a glorious crown,
a beautiful wreath
for the remnant of his people.
6 He will be a spirit of justice
to the one who sits in judgment,
a source of strength
to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
7 And these also stagger from wine
and reel from beer:
Priests and prophets stagger from beer
and are befuddled with wine;
they reel from beer,
they stagger when seeing visions,
they stumble when rendering decisions.
8 All the tables are covered with vomit
and there is not a spot without filth.
and reel from beer:
Priests and prophets stagger from beer
and are befuddled with wine;
they reel from beer,
they stagger when seeing visions,
they stumble when rendering decisions.
8 All the tables are covered with vomit
and there is not a spot without filth.
9 “Who is it he is trying to teach?
To whom is he explaining his message?
To children weaned from their milk,
to those just taken from the breast?
10 For it is:
Do this, do that,
a rule for this, a rule for that;
a little here, a little there.”
To whom is he explaining his message?
To children weaned from their milk,
to those just taken from the breast?
10 For it is:
Do this, do that,
a rule for this, a rule for that;
a little here, a little there.”
11 Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues
God will speak to this people,
12 to whom he said,
“This is the resting place, let the weary rest”;
and, “This is the place of repose”—
but they would not listen.
13 So then, the word of the Lord to them will become:
Do this, do that,
a rule for this, a rule for that;
a little here, a little there—
so that as they go they will fall backward;
they will be injured and snared and captured.
God will speak to this people,
12 to whom he said,
“This is the resting place, let the weary rest”;
and, “This is the place of repose”—
but they would not listen.
13 So then, the word of the Lord to them will become:
Do this, do that,
a rule for this, a rule for that;
a little here, a little there—
so that as they go they will fall backward;
they will be injured and snared and captured.
14 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers
who rule this people in Jerusalem.
15 You boast, “We have entered into a covenant with death,
with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement.
When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
it cannot touch us,
for we have made a lie our refuge
and falsehood our hiding place.”
who rule this people in Jerusalem.
15 You boast, “We have entered into a covenant with death,
with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement.
When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
it cannot touch us,
for we have made a lie our refuge
and falsehood our hiding place.”
16 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who relies on it
will never be stricken with panic.
17 I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the plumb line;
hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie,
and water will overflow your hiding place.
18 Your covenant with death will be annulled;
your agreement with the realm of the dead will not stand.
When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
you will be beaten down by it.
19 As often as it comes it will carry you away;
morning after morning, by day and by night,
it will sweep through.”
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who relies on it
will never be stricken with panic.
17 I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the plumb line;
hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie,
and water will overflow your hiding place.
18 Your covenant with death will be annulled;
your agreement with the realm of the dead will not stand.
When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
you will be beaten down by it.
19 As often as it comes it will carry you away;
morning after morning, by day and by night,
it will sweep through.”
The understanding of this message
will bring sheer terror.
20 The bed is too short to stretch out on,
the blanket too narrow to wrap around you.
21 The Lord will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim,
he will rouse himself as in the Valley of Gibeon—
to do his work, his strange work,
and perform his task, his alien task.
22 Now stop your mocking,
or your chains will become heavier;
the Lord, the Lord Almighty, has told me
of the destruction decreed against the whole land.
will bring sheer terror.
20 The bed is too short to stretch out on,
the blanket too narrow to wrap around you.
21 The Lord will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim,
he will rouse himself as in the Valley of Gibeon—
to do his work, his strange work,
and perform his task, his alien task.
22 Now stop your mocking,
or your chains will become heavier;
the Lord, the Lord Almighty, has told me
of the destruction decreed against the whole land.
23 Listen and hear my voice;
pay attention and hear what I say.
24 When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually?
Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?
25 When he has leveled the surface,
does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?
Does he not plant wheat in its place,
barley in its plot,
and spelt in its field?
26 His God instructs him
and teaches him the right way.
pay attention and hear what I say.
24 When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually?
Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?
25 When he has leveled the surface,
does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?
Does he not plant wheat in its place,
barley in its plot,
and spelt in its field?
26 His God instructs him
and teaches him the right way.
27 Caraway is not threshed with a sledge,
nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin;
caraway is beaten out with a rod,
and cumin with a stick.
28 Grain must be ground to make bread;
so one does not go on threshing it forever.
The wheels of a threshing cart may be rolled over it,
but one does not use horses to grind grain.
29 All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,
whose plan is wonderful,
whose wisdom is magnificent.
nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin;
caraway is beaten out with a rod,
and cumin with a stick.
28 Grain must be ground to make bread;
so one does not go on threshing it forever.
The wheels of a threshing cart may be rolled over it,
but one does not use horses to grind grain.
29 All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,
whose plan is wonderful,
whose wisdom is magnificent.
A 'Panda-monium' of Pandas!
What would you call a group of pandas? I wonder if it would be 'a panda-monium'? I love this photo of pandas at play, and yes, they do look cuddly, don't they.
Poem for Today : 'Praises to Your Honour'
Praises to Your Honour
I come into Your presence,
Broken and repentant.
I bow in full obeisance,
To offer all I have.
I marvel at the glory
Of Your heavenly brightness.
I praise You as my father,
Kneeling down in wonder.
I worship at your temple,
Lifted by Your love.
Laud You in Your glory,
With praises to Your honour.
Your light is full within me,
In everlasting day.
The fullness of Your being,
Commanding as my Master.
Father you have freed me,
That I may be Your servant.
Lead and I will follow,
Wherever You may send.
The hope I see before me,
Rejoice in life eternal.
Seeking, first and always,
Your kingdom without end.
© 2005 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh
More Great Christian Quotes by C H Spurgeon
"Far be it from me to imagine that Zion contains none but Calvinistic Christians within her walls, or that there are none saved who do not hold our views."
"Everywhere there is apathy. Nobody cares whether that which is preached is true or false. A sermon is a sermon whatever the subject; only, the shorter the better."
"If you look down into a well, if it be empty it will appear to be very deep, but if there be water in it you will see its brightness. I believe that many 'deep' preachers are simply so because they are like dry wells with nothing whatever in them, except decaying leaves, a few stones, and perhaps a dead cat or two. If there be living water in your preaching it may be very deep, but the light of truth will give clearness to it."
"There are two sorts of prayers- those expressed in words, and the unuttered longings which abide as silent meditations. Words are not the essence but the garments of prayer... There may be prevailing intercession where there are no words; and alas! there may be words where there is no true supplication. Let us cultivate the spirit of prayer, which is even better than the habit of prayer."
"Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind. We are useless."
"Groanings which cannot be uttered are often prayers which cannot be refused."
Joanne Lowe's Meditations
THE PILOT OF OUR LIFE
"And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."
Mark 4:38,39 (King James Version)
Joanne Lowe
A Visit to The Cheshire Show (2)
Here's some more photos of our visit to The Cheshire Show on Tuesday. The Huntsmen and hounds were a very popular sight.
This line-up of 'Tractors through the Ages' brought back memories of time spent on the farm during my childhood, and 'Yes!', there was a little grey-painted Fergy' like the one that I was allowed to drive.
Wherever there are old vehicles, whether they are Classic, Vintage or just plain old work-horses, you will find knots of men and boys gazing at them or discussing their merits and faults.
Most folk like a cavalcade of vintage cars, me included, and these vehicles were making their way to the main ring in order for their owners to show them off in all of their splendour.
We stood and watched for some time as the prize-winning cattle were paraded around the main arena accompanied by their proud owners or handlers. There were some magnificent cattle amongst them!
The parade of livestock is always a favourite part of the show.
I think that my favourite animals at the show were undoubtedly the Shire horses. These fabulous beasts are the gentle giants of the farming world, and although horse-power is generally no more to be found, you can still manage to find them working on Rare-bred farms.
All dressed up for the Show, and the prize-winners line up to receive the cups.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
A Visit to The Cheshire Show (1)
Yesterday we went to the Cheshire Show for the day, and despite various weather warnings, we enjoyed a day of good weather, with only about an hour of rain around lunchtime. Fortunately, we were under shelter and so remained dry! On the way into the show we passed this stand featuring Birds of Prey, and later in the morning we were able to enjoy a show in the main ring which featured the birds.
One of the first exhibits that we enjoyed was the glass-blowing, and here we saw a hands-on demonstration with the glass-blower creating a wine glass of clear glass but with a blue rim.
I've seen similar demonstrations in the past, but the fascination of seeing creative artisans at work never goes away.
One of the enjoyable things about an Agricultural Show is that you get to see a lot of animals in prime condition and close-up. With my Welsh background, it was inevitable that I should check out the sheep!
What a fine specimen of a ram this fellow is!
This guy, who was either from Australia or New Zealand, although I missed from which, made the gathered crowd chuckle with his comments about sheep, and when it came to shearing he was a dab hand!
We spent a wile looking around the Craft Marquee which is always of interest.
These brightly coloured items are neither sweets nor fancy cakes, even though many of them looked as though they were. If you tried to eat any of these you would be foaming at the mouth, for they are all soaps!
This year's theme is 'Books, Books and More Books!' as depicted by the display above and the rather buxom librarian precariously reaching forward whilst perched on the steps,
There were some lovely floral exhibits on show,.some of which were simple like the one above, but many others which were very intricate and well-balanced, like the prize-winning ones below.
Several of the floral displays were free-standing, and this one caught our eye in particular.
The Food Hall was a great place to be with a wide variety of good foods on display, but a favourite section for us was the massive Cheese Hall with hundreds of cheeses on display and for sale. The photo above shows a small section of the prize-winning cheeses that were displayed in the central aisle.
We loved the display of horse and hounds, the red of the huntsmen from the various packs showing bright against the green of the turf. There were about half a dozen packs altogether, and at one point all the dogs mingled together in one gigantic pack in the main arena, members of the public being invited to enter the ring and meet the dogs. As this involved hurdling a 3-foot high barrier, i was not one of the public who responded, although many people did.
Amongst the packs was this pack of bloodhounds, not a sight that you often see in the UK.
As well as all the different exhibitors and demonstrations, there were various exhibits involving transport, included amongst which were a display of hearses and the fire engines in the picture above.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
More Great Christian Quotes
"What will it cost me for God to break my heart?" - "It will cost you absolutely everything."
- Gerhard DuToit
"Would that God would make hell so read to us that we cannot rest; heaven so real that we must have men there."
- Hudson Taylor
Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tyre?
- Corrie Ten Boom
"Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind. We are useless."
- Charles Spurgeon
"In revival, holiness becomes a constant necessity, rather than an occasional option."
- Mark Stippe
"Lost people matter to God, and so they must matter to us."
- Keith Wright
"There are only two kinds of persons: those dead in sin and those dead to sin."
- Leonard Ravenhill
"Your days at the most cannot be very long, so use them to the best of your ability for the glory of God and the benefit of your generation."
- General Booth
- Gerhard DuToit
"Would that God would make hell so read to us that we cannot rest; heaven so real that we must have men there."
- Hudson Taylor
Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tyre?
- Corrie Ten Boom
"Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind. We are useless."
- Charles Spurgeon
"In revival, holiness becomes a constant necessity, rather than an occasional option."
- Mark Stippe
"Lost people matter to God, and so they must matter to us."
- Keith Wright
"There are only two kinds of persons: those dead in sin and those dead to sin."
- Leonard Ravenhill
"Your days at the most cannot be very long, so use them to the best of your ability for the glory of God and the benefit of your generation."
- General Booth
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