I Kill You in the Name of Allah

The Case of Rifqa Bary

There is a battle raging in Florida courts over the fate of a 17 year old girl named Rifqa Bary who has run away from home. According to Rifqa, she converted to Christianity from Islam 4 years ago after having a personal encounter with Jesus Christ...and now her life is in danger.

Although she endeavored to keep this a secret - hiding her Bible, stealing away to church meetings, praying in private - her family eventually found out. Now, she has run away from home claiming that her father has threatened to kill her in the name of Allah for this betrayal.

Where is the Power of God?

Feeling Weak

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." II Corinthians 12:9

In reflecting on the above Scripture this morning, I saw something in a way that I hadn't before. Isn't it interesting how you can read a Scripture over and over again and God can continually bring new revelations to you on its meaning? His word is clearly a living word.

There are times (more often than not) when I am crying out for the power of God to be manifest in my life. I don't want to just write on this blog, pray, talk to others, witness about Jesus, or do anything that is simply my words or man's wisdom. I want my life to be given over to be a manifestation of the power of God, so that people do not see me, but Jesus can be seen. Needless to say, that is not always a goal I achieve, yet and still I reach for it.

God says that the faith of man can only stand in the power of God.

Sunday, the Mark of the Beast?

We have been asked to provide feedback on why people worship God on Sunday and whether Sunday worship is the mark of the beast. Before reading this, it may be beneficial to read the article entitled "The Spirit of the Law" which examines how the law applies to Christians today.

What day is the Sabbath?

The Sabbath day - when referred to in Scripture - is speaking of Saturday.  Specifically sundown on Friday evening to sundown on Saturday evening.

"Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. " Exodus 31:15 (Also examine Exodus 16:23; Exodus 35:2; Leviticus 16:31; Leviticus 23:3; Leviticus 23:32; Leviticus 25:4; Deuteronomy 5:14)

The Sabbath is to be a holy memorial to God's act of creation, where He rested on the 7th day. There is no Scripture indicating that God ever replaced the Sabbath with observance of any other day.

Made in God's Image

A Penny For Your Thoughts

I am always amazed at the simplicity that is found in Christ. Man tries to make things so hard, but a convoluted mind is a sign of chaos. Jesus comes straight down the middle; His logic doesn't involve a bunch of twists and turns.

His ways and thoughts are higher than ours, yet a carnal mind thinks that "higher thoughts" equates to complex intellectual truths. Yet that is not the way that God works. What seems logical to man is insanity to God. There is simplicity in Him, and thereby He confounds the wise.

A Good Vampire?

There are continuing comments about Twilight and whether similar stories such as The Vampire Diaries are really just harmless entertainment. I believe that the Twilight expose by Dr. Scott Johnson does a thorough job of reviewing this.

However, I am posting a comment we received and my response on this topic as I feel it addresses in short the heart of this matter: Can there be a "good" vampire?

Anonymous Comment:

I am 65 years old, a born-again Christian (for 40 years) and grandmother of four grandchildren (15 yrs, 13 yrs, 12 yrs and 9 yrs). My oldest son is a pastor and a Chaplan in the Army National Guard.

I LOVE Twilight's Edward and his character. I see him as good, kind and protective. I see him as wanting to be good regardless of the curse upon him. He did choose to love over destroying. He constantly made that decision.

As the Bible says, and I am paraphrasing, 'to him who thinks something is sin, to him it is sin.' In another verse the Bible also says, "Who are you to judge another's servant. To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand for God is able to make him stand." The first scripture is for all of us Christians as well as the second.

We spend too much time judging one another and not enought time praying for one another. Jesus said 'you ought always to pray and never to faint.'

Stop picking on Stephanie Meyer and what she believes or does. Pray for her. That is how you and I can help her. God is able to change her and make her stand. Likewise, God is able to make any one of us stand who is caught up in something He does not wish us to be involved in.

The Spirit of the Law - A Summary

Clean Your Room

In summary, the Scriptures show that ALL of the law, including the Ten Commandments are done away with in Christ so that we may be free to serve in the Spirit of the law and not the letter. This is important because if we are trying to meet the letter of the law, we are not grasping the fullness of what God is after with us.

Since this started with my daughter, I thought it would be fitting to end with her.

Let’s say I give my daughter a checklist of things to do to clean her room. Vacuum, make the bed, wash dirty clothes, put up your toys, clean the windows, etc. When she does those things, she will be in compliance with what I have asked.  But are these specific tasks REALLY what I am after? No. I really just want her to clean her room.