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Obama’s Appeasement of Terrorist Regime

by Carolyn Abell

I hope that by the time this gets to press, our President has found the courage and moral imperative to condemn the oppressive shariah law-inspired Khamenei - Ahmadinejad dictatorship in Iran, but I’m not betting on it. Ever since the obviously “fixed” results from last week’s presidential election declared Ahmadinejad the winner, Iranian students and other Iranian citizens longing for change have been demonstrating their dissatisfaction with the status quo in that country. Thus far Obama’s statements concerning that situation have been pitifully lame, in true keeping with his philosophy of appeasement.

This is something he can’t blame on his predecessor, like he has everything else that has gone wrong. It all began on his watch, and with his abysmal lack of knowledge and experience in dealing with such a situation, his first reaction is to ignore it and hope it goes away.

After all, Obama was really counting on his charismatic personality to win over the jihadists bent on our destruction. If he managed to hypnotize over half of the U. S. voters into believing he was a messianic savior, why couldn’t he similarly charm the rest of the world with his vague rhetorical jargon? Since he is so fond of Islamic world leaders (kissing up to the king of Saudi Arabia, for example), maybe he thought he could convince them he was the long-awaited 12th Imam. All indications are that he has the hubris to believe it.

His refusal to call them “terrorists” is so naïve as to be laughable. Iran has been funding and equipping terrorist groups all over the world for years. Ahmadinejad is very open about his intentions to annihilate Israel and the United States, and is rapidly building up the nuclear capability to carry out that threat. As the prophet Jeremiah phrased it, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?” You can cozy up to a leopard and call it “kitty, kitty” if you want to, but it’s still going to attack you at the first opportunity.

How I long for George Bush’s moral clarity and strong leadership in accurately identifying the axis of evil and refusing to negotiate with it!  He made me feel safe and protected. Obama makes me feel vulnerable and embarrassed to be part of a country whose leader no longer stands up for the human rights of people trying to rid themselves of oppression.

Who knows what will pan out in the next few days in Iran?  Right now the demonstrators seem to be confined to the Teheran area; if the spirit of rebellion spills out into other towns and villages, it could become a real revolution. Let’s hope that if that occurs, Iran’s military leadership will have the courage to choose the right side.

Iran is ripe for revolution for several reasons. First, the Mullahs have ruled with an iron fist since their coup in 1979, and the meaning of “freedom” has vanished within that country. The human heart longs for liberty, not oppression.

As a direct result of the regime’s bully tactics, several million refugees have left Iran during that thirty-year period.

The country is now suffering from an unemployment rate that is somewhere between 30 and 50 percent.

And the regime does everything possible to suppress communication with the outside world. Video footage seen on television is due to private citizens in that country recording it secretly and then sending it via circuitous transmission to Twitter. 

The demonstrators’ signs, in very clearly printed English, are a desperate bid for support from our country and others that still enjoy personal freedoms. Our terrorist-sympathizing, Islam-schmoozing President would be doing the world a service by at least coming out with a statement of support for their efforts to liberate their country from the  election-rigging, Mullah-controlled jihadist theocracy.

Copyright 2009

True Christians Mourn Tiller Death

by Carolyn Abell

The assassination of Dr. George Tiller, the Kansas physician noted for specializing in late-term abortions, is shocking and deeply troubling. I share the sorrow of his grieving family and pray for their comfort. Such a violent and indefensible act of vigilante justice is truly a setback for those of us who have for years attempted to end such a barbaric process by appealing from a position of conscience, reason, and humane justice.

I absolutely believe that abortion is wrong, and even though it is legal, my own conscience, born of Judeo-Christian principles, defines it as murder. The fact that it is legal, however, gives protection under our laws to those who participate in abortion. For a citizen to assume the right to kill a physician who is acting within the law is nothing more than unsanctioned vigilantism. It also serves as a setback to the peaceful efforts of the many who are against abortion, but who would never dream of harming someone involved in that practice.

In his June 1 “End of Day Report,” however, Gary Bauer, who also deplores the murder of Dr. Tiller, nevertheless made this very interesting observation: “The reality is that the political Left created the culture of death in America – where our unborn children are disposed of each year just like Styrofoam cups. Once you create that culture of death that devalues innocent life, and champion the idea that some human beings have no right to life that we are bound to respect, then every life is at greater risk.”

Christians are taught to “hate the sin, but love the sinner.” That is why many of us engage in support of pregnancy care centers, which specialize in educating clients on more acceptable options, and giving them assistance with pursuing those options. All human life is precious, from the miniscule clump of living fetal cells to the life of Dr. George Tiller.

I recently read the book, “Tortured for Christ,” by Rev. Richard Wurmbrand, who spent almost 14 years in a communist prison in Romania. During this time of extreme persecution, to the point of near death, Rev. Wurmbrand continued to pray for his persecutors. Only the love of Christ can give that kind of forgiving and loving spirit to a person. Several years ago before his death, Rev. Wurmbrand was asked to speak at a pro-life rally, where he lauded the efforts of those who defend the lives of the unborn. He also asked, however, if the protestors had invited the abortion doctors into their homes and cooked them a nice meal. Such an act of kindness and outreach might do much more good than animated demonstrations.

In fact, Christian love and kindness did indeed result in the conversion of at least one abortion-supporting individual. In her book, “Won by Love,” Norma McCorvey related how she worked in an abortion clinic for several years. In fact, she was the “Roe” in the infamous Roe v. Wade case by which the Supreme Court legalized abortion nation-wide in 1973.

After a pro-life group moved in next door to the abortion clinic where she worked, McCorvey was eventually won over by the genuine love, affection, and trust of its occupants. The friendships grew and strengthened, until McCorvey finally made a decision to accept Jesus as her Savior and changed her life’s focus to fighting against abortion instead of working to promote it. She has also appealed, thus far unsuccessfully, for the reversal of Roe v. Wade.

Statements by a family member of Scott Roeder, the suspect in Dr. Tiller’s death, allege that he had a history of mental problems, which will no doubt be useful in his defense. Hopefully it will also mitigate the damage to the pro-life movement, which as a whole, does not condone violence of any kind, and should not be held accountable for the actions of a clearly unbalanced individual who decided to execute his own brand of rogue justice.

Copyright Carolyn Abell 2009

Know the True History of Our Nation

By Carolyn Abell

As we prepare to celebrate Memorial Day 2009, remembering the hundreds of thousands of courageous members of the military who have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our nation's freedom, many of us are distressed over the direction in which our country seems to be heading. 

Our President's repeated declarations that we are not a Christian nation are born of either gross ignorance on his part or the willing denial of truth. In either case, these denials are deeply disturbing to the majority of our citizenry and an affront to our founding fathers and those brave men and women who have fought for our freedom from Valley Forge to Fallujah.

It is a fact that for decades there has been a concerted effort among many historians to hide, distort, and rewrite our nation's history in an effort to minimize and marginalize the influence of Christian beliefs and Judeo-Christian morality on the men who signed the Declaration of Independence and who wrote our Constitution.  The documentary evidence is available, however, to support the fact that they were men of courage and faith who held a deep respect for Biblical teachings and Divine authority.

Being a Christian nation does not mean that everyone is compelled to be Christian in belief. In fact, one of the guiding principles of Christianity is that everyone has freedom to choose what he or she believes. The fact is that polls show most American citizens do believe in God.

There is also compelling evidence that the founding fathers believed Christians make better leaders. The first Supreme Court Justice John Jay stated it succinctly: "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."

The majority of our Presidents have, in fact, been professing Christians of varying denominations.  Although Thomas Jefferson is often touted as the "deist" President who disdained Christianity, historical documents dispel this idea. Jefferson was, in fact, instrumental in launching weekly Sunday worship services in the Capitol-services in which he participated regularly.  As he once stated to a friend, "No nation has ever existed or been governed without religion. Nor can be. The Christian religion is the best religion that has been given to man and I, as Chief Magistrate of this nation, am bound to give it the sanction of my example."

Another evidence of our national religious heritage is the fact that each one of the fifty states has a constitutional preamble which references God. Most make bold reference to "Almighty God," while others refer to "the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe" (Maine and Missouri), "Our Creator" (Virginia), and "Author of  Existence" (Vermont). But without exception, all acknowledge a supreme authority.

With grateful admiration that I learned recently of U.S. Congressman Randy Forbes' (TX) introduction of House Resolution 397, in which he has called upon our Congress to affirm our Christian heritage and religious history, and to proclaim the first week of May each year as "America's Spiritual Heritage Week."  The resolution, which is several pages in length, cites over seventy historically documented examples of Christian influence in our national history. Forty-one bipartisan supporters have signed on as sponsors. Although my representative is not one of them, I have written him and asked him to support H.R. 397.

In another effort to educate our citizens on its Christian heritage, author and historian David Barton has recorded "The American Heritage Series," consisting of several hours on DVD, in which he corrects many of the modern misconceptions of our national history. Years of research into our nation's carefully preserved historical documents have revealed that America's founding fathers were deeply reverent and religious men who were guided by Godly principles and wisdom in their development of our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. More information is available at www.wallbuilders.com.

The series is being used as an educational tool in some communities and churches.  Knowledge is power, and unless we arm ourselves with the truth, rather than believing distortions and lies propagated by those who want to promote unhealthy change, our nation is doomed.

Copyright 2009 Carolyn Abell

It’s All About Power

by Carolyn Abell

He didn’t even try to hide it. In his defection speech from the Republican party, Senator Arlen Specter declared very simply that polls of his Pennsylvania constituency showed that he had a very poor chance of being re-elected as a Republican, and therefore he was switching to the Democratic party. He also mouthed some platitudes about the Republican party’s leaving him, an utterly implausible excuse, since the basic Republican party’s platform hasn’t changed since Ronald Reagan’s day.

Yes, the pure and simple reason for Specter’s abandonment of the party that had served him well for five terms in the Senate was nothing more than a desperate grasp at retaining his personal power base.  As one of the more senior senators, he has held positions on many of the “plum” committees, including the Senate Judiciary Committee.  People who have spent this long building up a base of power and influence are deeply reluctant to lose it.

Specter recently dismayed (and betrayed) his fellow Republicans and millions of our conservative, tax-paying citizens by voting for Obama’s huge pork-laden “stimulus” bill, one of the most irresponsible actions in the history of our country. Evidently it not only angered fellow members in Congress, but must have had repercussions with his voters in Pennsylvania, who made it known they would not tolerate such traitorous shenanigans, and come next election cycle, would be voting for someone with more sense of responsibility.

What makes Specter’s defection so ironic is that in 2001, when Senator Jim Jeffords abandoned the Republican party to become an independent, an angry Senator Specter introduced legislation to prevent a senator from changing parties in mid-term. Presumably his ire over “Jumping Jim’s” defection stemmed from the quaint, old-fashioned notion that a senator is elected by his constituents based on his party credentials and the campaign platform on which he runs—a platform that normally mirrors the party’s basic positions on most issues. He then owes his constituents his loyalty to maintain those positions for the six-year term of office.

The idea of owing a group of citizens who elected him into office, some consistency, loyalty and integrity was fine for other senators. But when it appeared it would have an adverse affect on Arlen Specter’s personal political career, it only took a few phone calls from Vice President Biden, no doubt filled with tantalizing promises of campaign cash from the Democrats’ fat coffers, and more plum committee assignments, for Specter to abandon any pretense of loyalty to his former principles.

More and more of our country’s hard-working citizens are becoming increasingly disenchanted with corrupt politics in Washington, and are being energized to do something about it. The Tax Day TEA parties produced far more participants among both Democrats and Republicans than anyone expected, and organizers are capitalizing on the huge turn-outs to keep the momentum going with follow-up meetings and strategies to replace career politicians with people who still understand the meaning of “we the people” and the obligation to support their voters instead of building personal power bases.

If Shakespeare’s Marcellus (in Hamlet) thought something was rotten in Denmark, he would have reeled from the stench in Washington. Greed, corruption, and power-mongering among those we are supposed to trust, is so palpable, I’m surprised they haven’t started issuing masks to cope with the odor.

The irresponsible spending; the cavalier disregard for the threat of terrorism and the danger posed by the “axis of evil;” the revealing of classified information to the detriment of those who are trying to save lives; and the many insulting remarks about the military who put their lives on the line to defend the homeland, are just a few of the stinking, rotten betrayals foisted on us by the President, Senate, and House of Representatives. To again paraphrase Shakespeare, “A pox on all your houses!”

Israel in Photographs, Final Part

by Carolyn Abell 
(Click on image to see larger view)

I’ll finish up the photo journey through Israel today. I sincerely appreciate all of the positive comments and some questions readers have addressed, and I hope that each person reading this, if you haven’t already, will have the opportunity to visit the Holy Land.

The excavated ruins of the ancient Roman city of Bet Shean show that it is one of the best preserved in the country. Note the huge amphitheater in the rear. This was also the site where the bodies of King Saul and his sons were hung on the city walls after being killed by the Philistines at Mount Gilboa. (1 Sam. 31:10)  The photo below shows some of our men demonstrating how the public toilets were used in Bet Shean 2000 years ago.  

Another set of ruins, this is what is left of Masada, an ancient Jewish mountain city that overlooked the Dead Sea. The story of Masada comes from the writings of Josephus, who tells us that it was destroyed by the Romans in 74 AD, after being under siege for two years. The night before the city was taken, however, the 900 plus occupants decided to commit suicide rather than surrender to the Romans. Two women and five children hid, rather than kill themselves, and thus were the source of information about the event. In 1964 an ancient manuscript of the 37th chapter of Ezekiel was found here. Many of you will know that this chapter relates Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones, in which God resurrected the bones, causing them to come together, be covered with flesh, and be renewed in life. This is a symbolically sacred story to the Jews, who believe it was prophetic of the rebuilding of the nation of Israel. In 1988 Israel celebrated its 40th birthday celebration, part of which was filmed at Masada. To commemorate this event, American actor Gregory Peck, amidst the ruins of this place of so much sadness, read the 37th chapter of Ezekiel, as a statement of the rebirth of a nation.  When our group visited Masada in March, I was honored to be chosen to read the same chapter to our group. 

The Dead Sea scrolls were discovered in various caves at Qumran.  Most of them were here in cave #4.

 

A scaled-down model of the Temple surrounded by a meticulously reconstructed Old Jerusalem enabled us to visualize how it would have looked in Jesus’ time.

 

This was one of our first views of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.  Note the prominent gold dome from the Muslim Dome of the Rock, which occupies the Temple Mount.

Here is a Jewish cemetery at the Mount of Olives. Jews from all over the world have purchased plots in Jerusalem so that they can be buried in the Holy City of God. One night at our hotel we met a man from New Jersey who had just arrived in Jerusalem. His mother had passed away and he had her body flown from California to Jerusalem to be buried at Mount Scopus, where she had purchased a plot 20 years ago.

We arrived at the Church of the Nativity (where Jesus was born) in time to watch this procession of Armenian church officials coming in for mass.

This Church of Shepherds in Bethlehem was built in the shape of a tent. It is believed to be the spot where the angels appeared to the shepherds to tell them about Jesus’ birth.

These ancient olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane are well over a thousand years old.  The garden was beautifully kept up and preserved. Gethsemane was where Jesus spent His last night in prayer before His crucifixion.

In Jerusalem, this beautiful mosaic is inside the Church of the Flagellation, which stands in the place where Jesus was tried by Pontius Pilate.

This altar in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is believed to mark the spot where Jesus was crucified.

This “Train to Nowhere” is perched atop a railroad that ends exactly where you see it. Brought from Auschwitz, it is now part of Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum, where Jews and the rest of mankind relive the horrors of Hitler’s death camps.

We saw many Israeli Defense Force (IDF) units and individual members throughout our trip. This unit is having a history lesson on the southern steps of the Temple Mount. A large part of their training consists of motivational lessons of various historic battles and how God has helped the Jews survive through the centuries.

“Golgotha” means place of the skull. It is near this site that many believe Jesus was crucified, although the “official” place is at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.  Below is the opening of a cave tomb adjacent to the skull-like rock, which was discovered by an Englishman, General Charles Gordon in the late 19th Century. The site is well-maintained by an independent organization from England, but not officially sanctioned by the Church of England.

The couple with their backs to the camera are Sam and Helen Rogers, who arranged the tour for us and served as group leaders for this pilgrimage.

Israel in Photographs, Part II

By Carolyn Abell

This is the second in a series of photo journals about my trip to Israel. Thanks to all who have expressed interest and commented on the previous one.

   Here we see the ski resort atop Mount Hermon, located in the Golan Heights and the highest point in Israel. It was very active with skiers the day we went. Mount Hermon is right at the Syrian Border; in fact it peaks at about 10,000 feet on the Syrian side. I snapped this one from the chair lift.

  The ancient city of Caesarea Philippi, built by Philip, the son of Herod the Great, is now merely ruins, although this beautiful Corinthian column is in amazingly good shape for being 2000 years old. Somewhere in this vicinity is where Jesus told Peter that he would be the rock upon which the church would be built (Matt. 16:13-20).

On a nature trail along the Dan River near Caesarea Philippi, Gilla explains that the Dan is formed from water coming down from Mount Hermon. It was a delightful, rushing stream, and pleasant (albeit treacherous!) walk. At one stop along the way Bryan read the 42nd Psalm.

This Tabor Oak at Caesarea Philippi appears to be growing out of the stones. Actually, it was growing there before excavation started, so you can tell from where the tree base is, how much has been excavated. In spite of removing surrounding soil, the oak continues to thrive.

This canopy covers an archaeological site currently under excavation. The structure shown is known as “Abraham’s Gate” to the ancient city of Laish, now know as Dan. The gate is believed to date from about 1800 B.C. and is the only gate in the world with mud bricks instead of stone, from that time period.

Yardenit is believed to be the site along the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized. Many pilgrimage groups come here to renew their baptismal vows and some even renew their baptism by immersion in the Jordan River.

I can’t take credit for this photograph; Bryan Roberts made it and gave permission to use it. But I want to tell you about my friend, Jo. She and I are about the same age; we are members of the same church, and have been friends since we met three years ago when we both found ourselves serving on the county library board of trustees.
 Just before the trip, Jo’s mammogram indicated a large mass. An ultrasound verified the mass, and she was told to see a surgeon. Unwilling to cancel her trip to Israel, Jo booked her appointment with the surgeon for the day after we returned.
 Jo has a lot of faith, and she felt the “peace that passes all understanding” during the trip, as she believed God for a miracle. She really wanted to be fully immersed in the Jordan River, but the coolness of the weather and other circumstances made it inadvisable, so instead she prayed as she dipped her hands in the water. Sam Rogers, our minister and group leader, also prayed for her, as he did for each of us.
 When she returned to Tifton and had her surgeon’s appointment, he performed a needle biopsy, and informed her that all he found was fatty tissue. Isn’t our God great?

These are beautiful frescoes inside the Greek Orthodox Church of Mary in Nazareth.
 

This is a huge mosaic inside the Church of the Annunciation, the largest Basilica in the Middle East. This particular mosaic is from Spain. Other countries have their own splendid works of art lining the inside walls of the Basilica.

As we departed the region of Galilee, we stopped at a place marked “sea level,” looking down on Galilee, which sits 700 feet below sea level. We enjoyed four days at a Kibbutz hotel directly on the lake.

Here we see the remains of a Byzantine church at Kursi, the place where Jesus cast demons out of a man and into a herd of swine. Gilla told us it was the first case of “deviled ham.”

 

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin…” (Matt. 6:28)
 Wild flowers were at their peak when we visited. The red ones in the center are red anemone, which are traditionally called “lilies of the field.”
 In a few days I will continue this photo journey of the Holy Land. Until then,
Shalom!

Copyright 2009 Carolyn Abell   

Israel in Photographs, Part I

by Carolyn Abell

Some readers have asked about photographs from my trip to Israel, so I have decided to share some of them with you. I’m not a great photographer, and frankly sometimes I was so enthralled with what I was seeing and where I was walking, that I would forget about taking pictures. I think some of the ones I did take, though, will be educational, and I will explain beneath one what it is.

Our very first stop after getting off the plane was the ancient city of Megiddo, which was one of the royal cities of the Canaanites and was first assigned to the tribe of Issachar, but later to Manasseh. What you see in the front of the photo are two watering troughs for horses with a horse hitching post (vertical) in between. Our guide said that these were constructed by King Ahab during his reign of Israel. He had several hundred horses and stable. It is believed that a trough similar to this in Bethlehem was the “manger” that the infant Jesus was laid in. There was very little wood in Israel at that time, but stone abounded both then and now, so it is a common building material.

This is a huge amphitheater at Caesarea Maritime, an ancient capital of  Palestine, founded by Herod the Great in the first century B.C. It sits on the shore of the Mediterranean and faces out over the sea. It was built to accommodate 4000 spectators.

 

Another structure at Caesarea Maritime was this ancient aqueduct, commissioned by the emperor Hadrian in the second century A.D.  It was designed to bring water down from the springs of Shuni.

 

This scene looks down on an olive grove on the side of Mount Carmel. The mountain is very close to the city of Haifa, which is now Israel’s business center, abounding with such names as Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo. We spent our first night in Haifa, in a hotel called the “Dan Carmel,” perched high above the city with a beautiful view of the harbor.

 

This photograph of your truly was made at the Israel-Lebanese border. A few feet to the right of the sign is the concertina wire that designates the border. The distances shown are in kilometers. Note that the wording is in three languages: English, Hebrew, and Arabic. This is standard for road signs throughout Israel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Bryan Roberts, one of our group, sitting in what would have been the “seat of honor” in the ancient synagogue at Capernaum. If you recall, Capernaum is where Jesus began his ministry (Matthew 4) and worked many miracles, one of which was healing of the paralyzed man who couldn’t get to Jesus, so his friends climbed on to the roof and cut a hole in it, to lower him down.

 

 

This is an overview of the ruins of Capernaum. It is likely that Peter lived in one of these dwellings, and where Jesus healed his mother-in law (Matt. 8:14)

 

 

  This is the preserved ruins of a boat that was found in 1986 in the Sea of Galilee, appropriately, by two fishermen. It has been determined to be of the type Peter and other disciples fished from during Jesus’ time on earth. The boat’s construction is primarily from oak and cedar.

 

 

  This is another photograph of me between my friends Pat Doss and Bryan Roberts, all members of the same church in Tifton. We were enjoying the beautiful day and our ride on the Sea of Galilee in a boat the owner called “the Jesus boat.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Members of our group were very attentive as Gilla (left, striped shirt), explained this ancient olive press. Olives are a big crop in Israel, especially in the Galilee region.

 

The Church of the Beatitudes was built at the spot where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. In a courtyard outdoors, overlooking the Sea of Galilee, we ended that day’s pilgrimage by celebrating communion and singing the chorus, “We are standing on Holy Ground…”  The awe and reverence was palpable.

 In a few days I will show some more photographs from Galilee and the Golan Heights, including Mount Hermon with its snowy ski resort and the River Jordan.

Are God and Allah the Same?

by Carolyn Abell

Some of my readers tactfully suggested to me that they thought my commentary on my trip to Israel was a bit biased in favor of Christianity/Judaism and against Islam. Comments made indicated that a number of people believe that all three religions, being monotheistic, believe in the same God. Nothing could be further from the truth, and I will illustrate this with factual evidence.

First, let me clarify that Jews and Christians do believe in the same God-the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Jews did not accept Jesus as the Messiah, but they are still God's people with whom He holds a covenant that cannot be broken.

I first became acquainted with the Muslim religion several years ago when I lived in Germany. An English friend who lived nearby explained to me that her home was a shelter for Muslims who convert to Christianity. If they aren't murdered outright by families, they are forced to leave home. Through her, I met Faezeh, a beautiful Iranian woman who showed me a scar in her right eyebrow. When she became a Christian, her husband attacked her with a knife, narrowly missing putting her eye out. Another woman sheltered by Megan was permanently crippled from repeated beatings she had endured from her husband. Megan went to great lengths to keep her address a secret, to the extent of having a post office box in a different town so she could better protect her location and those whom she offered shelter.

When the World Trade Center towers were destroyed on September 11, 2001, I realized I still knew very little about the Islamic religion. Wondering what on earth would drive human beings commit such an atrocity in the name of Allah, I started reading and studying the Qur'an and the writings of people who had lived under that belief. It brought me to a much greater understanding of the evil nature and spirit of complete intolerance that governs their actions and life goals.

Let me clarify that I do not believe all Muslims are intolerant and have evil intentions. There are many right here in our country that just want to live peaceably with everyone. However, it is becoming more and more apparent that the zealots who have read the Qur'an and believe Mohammed meant what he said when he told them to kill all "nonbelievers" are gaining momentum with their bloodthirsty, jihadist intent to militantly wipe out Christians and Jews. There are Muslim schools right here in our country that teach children that the men who hijacked those airplanes on 9/11 were heroes.

Did you hear a single Muslim cleric express any sympathy for victims who were killed on 9/11? I didn't. Nor did I hear any condemning the public beheadings of Americans and other innocent people that took place when we invaded Iraq. They were either in consonance with those actions, or they were paralyzed by the fear that they might be the next one whose head rolled on Al Jazeera prime time, for daring to speak out.

The notion that Allah is simply another name for the same God is totally false. In fact, the Qur'an considers Christians to be blasphemers. In Surah 5:72,73 it states "They do blaspheme who say 'God is Christ the son of Mary.' They do blaspheme who say: 'God is one of three in a trinity;' for there is no God except one God Allah."  Likewise, in our Bible, 1 John 2:22 states, "And who is the great liar? The one who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Such people are antichrists, for they have denied the Father and the Son." 

These two religions have clearly stated that they have no common ground.

Other passages in the Qur'an are even more emphatic in their treatment of Christians. Surah 4:89 states that "They long that ye should disbelieve even as they disbelieve, that ye may be upon a level with them. So choose not friends from them till they forsake their homes in the way of Allah. If they turn back to enmity, then take them and kill them wherever you find them, and choose no friend nor helper from among them."  Mohammed here makes it very clear that Muslims are not even allowed to be friends with non-Muslims. Their stated goal is to kill all "unbelievers."

Indeed, the Qur'an is rampant with passages that refer to Christians and Jews as the enemy, minions of Satan, infidels, and polytheists (Christians who believe in the Trinity).  In fact, Surah 3:151 urges Islamic followers to "Cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve…"  To suppose that Allah, who tells Muslims to kill their enemy, is the same God Who tells Christians to "Love your enemies; pray for those who persecute you…" (Matt. 5:44) is ludicrous. It defies every principle of logic and reason to presume that God would give such conflicting commands to different people.

The idea that Muslim zealots can be negotiated with or appeased in any way is absurdly naïve. Three years ago, when Hamas took over the Palestinian parliament, one of the newly elected members was a woman named Mariam Farahat. Serving as an icon of jihad, Ms. Farahat garnered admiration and respect among her people because she sent three of her six children to serve as suicide bombers against Israeli citizens. Any rational person knows that this is not someone with the ability to think and act with normal reason.

I mentioned in my last column that the Muslims guarding the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem do not allow Christians and Jews to pray on the Temple Mount. This would seem to indicate conclusively that they do not believe in the same God. If that isn't evidence enough, there are two inscriptions on copper plates on the dome which leave no doubt with their messages: "The Unity of God and the Prophecy of Mohammad are true," states one inscription. The other says, "The Sonship of Jesus and the Trinity are false."

The same God?  No way!

Copyright 2009 Carolyn Abell

General Observations about Modern Israel

by Carolyn Abell,

    First, I want to thank the readers who offered such positive comments on my two previous commentaries about the trip to Israel. As I promised in the second one, I wanted to write one more—focusing on things less religious in nature. 

    Some members of our group had been to Israel on previous journeys, and they all agreed that there is much more to see now. The continuous archaeological excavations are producing more and more of ancient biblical and other historic sites, which made the trip very exciting and enlightening for them.

    We saw Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers and sailors in several places, of course. I mentioned previously that they routinely train at some of the historic sites, so that they are instilled with a sense of appreciation for what they are fighting for. Also, Gilla prepared us in advance with the information that when an IDF member is issued a weapon, he or she is responsible for that weapon at all times.This means that when he is off-duty, and doesn’t have a secure place to store his M-16 rifle, he simply carries it with him while wearing civilian clothes. At lunch one day I sat next to a young man who was doing exactly that.

    The only real military activity we saw was in the Golan Heights, where we could hear what sounded like tanks firing practice rounds. Sure enough, along the road later, we spotted a tank column preparing to cross the road. The Golan is strategically important for keeping the Syrians from a surprise incursion into Israel.

    The day we went to Bethlehem, which is controlled by Palestinian Muslims, Gilla informed us that we must be sure to take our passports. Usually they are not needed to get through the checkpoint, but the Palestinians are very unpredictable, and occasionally demand to see passports. She also told us that she and Schlomo were not allowed by the Israeli government to go to Bethlehem, so her agency had arranged in advance for us to exit our motor coach and walk through the checkpoint, where we met our Palestinian guide, Adel, with another driver and bus. The main thing I noticed about conditions in Bethlehem is that it was dirty. Trash seemed to be everywhere, in contrast to areas where we had been before. 

    In fact, that seemed to be a distinguishing feature of all areas either controlled or primarily occupied by Arabs. One day we drove through a littered village in northern Israel, and Gilla said it used to be a Christian village, until the Arabs moved in. They built a mosque in front of the church and apparently made life so difficult for the Christians that most of them moved elsewhere. When I asked her why they would choose to build a mosque directly in front of a church, she said it is a common practice, and they do it “just because they can.”

    The Muslims also control the Temple Mount, where their Dome of the Rock has rested for more than thirteen centuries. The Israeli government apparently feels that it is more conducive to peaceful coexistence to allow them this control. The day we visited the Temple Mount, we had to be very prompt to get into the site at opening time, which is less frequent than Israeli-controlled areas. Gilla said they often decide, apparently on a whim, to simply close the gate and forbid entrance. Before we entered the area, she cautioned us repeatedly about praying. It is strictly forbidden for Christians and Jews to pray on the Temple Mount. Later, as we walked the area, she pointed out a single woman who was being followed by an Arab guard. “He’s watching her closely to make sure she doesn’t pray,” was the explanation. Apparently they don’t bother groups with guides, because they know the guides are very conscientious about warning visitors, since they could lose their privileges of entry if their group members violate this unpardonable prohibition by praying to our God in a territory dedicated to Allah.
 Gilla also told us that in the 1967 Six-Day War, where the Israelis won a quick and decisive victory against all surrounding Arab countries, the rabbis in Jerusalem wanted to seize the opportunity to level the Dome of the Rock and the Mosque of El Aksa, also on the Temple Mount.  Israeli government officials refused, stating that this would result in a religious conflict, which would be much harder to resolve than if they kept it at a political level. The Muslims do not allow any Jews or Christians inside the Mosque or the Dome. (Not that I would have wanted to enter either, personally.)

    It was amazing to me, however, that a couple of hundred yards behind the Dome, there was a huge heap of trash and rubble. Not even this most sacred site is apparently holy enough to warrant keeping the area clean.

    Most of our interaction with Arabs was friendly. We ate lunch several times in Arab-operated restaurants, including one in Druze village, where the local specialty, “labane,” was served. It was a large thin pancake, similar to a crepe, which was spread with a soft goat cheese, sprinkled with olive oil seasoned with hyssop, and then folded and placed on a griddle to heat up to a toasty deliciousness. Gilla called it a “Druze sandwich,” and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

    Arabs were almost everywhere we went, hawking everything from postcards to jewelry. Occasionally one would have a camel or donkey, and invite us to have a “taxi” ride on the animal. The only time I had a mild confrontation was with one who literally made a pest of himself, trying to sell postcards. It was the day we arrived in Jerusalem, and were at a beautiful look-out point over the city. It was a spiritual and emotional time for most of us, and we just wanted to savor the beauty of this experience. This man kept continually trying to get us to buy his postcards, and I finally told him politely but firmly to leave us alone. He fired back something about my discriminating because he was an Arab. I opted to not respond to his baseless accusation.

    Other than Gilla and Schlomo, my only real conversation with other Israelis was with a doctor and his assistant. Unfortunately, several of us came down with upper respiratory infections, and by Friday, the 13th of March, mine had gotten bad enough that I was pretty sure it was bronchitis instead of just a cold. I asked the hotel reception about a physician, and they phoned one who made a “house call” to my hotel room. Dr. Goldsmith, who is originally from Australia, brought his assistant along, and they were both very gracious and friendly. They asked me a lot of questions about my political leanings, and told me they thought George Bush had been a wonderful President, but they thought Jimmy Carter had lost his mind. They said they are still waiting to see how Obama is going to treat Israel. They both thanked me for my military service and told me to please spread the word that Americans are welcome and safe in Israel.    

    Both before and after my visit, several people questioned whether I might have some fear of being in the country. The answer was “No” before, and an even more emphatic “No” now that I’ve been there. In the areas we visited, we saw no signs of conflict. Granted, we didn’t go anywhere near Gaza, but even in our very close proximity to the Lebanon and Syrian borders, things seemed pretty benign.

This was most definitely a wonderful experience, and I would recommend it for anyone who is physically able to walk and climb. We trudged through tunnels, trails, and rocky paths up mountains and down in valleys. And I loved every minute.

From Jerusalem

by Carolyn Abell

March 16, 2009

"In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My Name forever." - 2 Kings 21:7

For me this entire trip has been building up to Jerusalem. The other places were significant, of course, but Jerusalem is the ultimate destination for those who love God, because it is the City of God.

As we neared its outskirts on Thursday, I could feel my emotions building to a crescendo of anticipation. And when our guide started playing that beautiful recording of "Jerusalem" by John Starnes, my tears began to flow. As the bus pulled into a look-out point for a panoramic view, I noticed upon disembarking that others were experiencing a similar reaction. It was as if everything else in my life had been merely a stepping-stone to this penultimate moment--my first glimpse of Jerusalem! The only imaginably better thing will be the New Jerusalem when Christ our Lord establishes His earthly Kingdom.

When we returned to the bus, Gilla, our guide and a devoutly religeous Jew, passed out pieces of bread and said a Hebrew blessing. Gilla does not take it for granted that she lives here. Her parents moved to Israel from Poland when she was very young. They both had numbers tatooed on their arms-- souvenirs of surviving the concentration camp at Auschwitz. Gilla is very proud that her two children were both born in Jerusalem-- an honor and privelege that many Jews can only wish for.

 Another moment of profound spiritual and sacred solemnity was walking the Via Dolorosa on Saturday. We took it slowly, stopping to appreciate each of the fourteen stations of the cross. Upon our arrival at the spot where the cross was actually planted in the earth at Golgotha, we waited in line for the chance to kneel in that holy spot in awe and reverence for the love of our Savior who had endured so much agony for us. It is incomprehensible that anyone could fail to be moved by this powerful realization.

That afternoon a trip to the church of the Visitation proved to be another special experience. The church is built at the birthplace of John the Baptist, and is splendidly decorated and maintained by the Franciscan order of Catholics. In fact, as we were admiring the beauty of the church, the Franciscan priest on duty, who was from Argentina, invited us to go back and examine some old vestments and other cherished church property that is hundreds of years old. He graciously answered all of our questions.

Yesterday morning we started in the Old City, entering through Herod's Gate and proceeding through the Rabbi's Tunnel, arriving at St. Anne's Church. Since no mass was in session, we held our morning devotional, followed by the hymn, "How Great Thou Art." The acoustics of this otherwise rather stark church seem especially designed for singing, and as we harmonized on this beautiful song, the sound reverberated throughout the edifice. Before we had finished, a Dutch tour group arrived, and we then took turns singing hymns, with both groups in unison for that all-time international favorite, "Amazing Grace."

In the afternoon, as a contrast to the combined worship experience, the Yad Veshem Holocaust Museum forced us to confront that dark side of human history. In a powerful presentation, it spares no details of the horrors experienced by the Jews and others in Europe during Hitler's regime of terror. Several military units were there, as the new soldiers learned more about the forces of evil they must confront to maintain the freedom of God's people.

Today's visit to the Wailing Wall was another unique time of personal reflection and prayer. I had prepared ahead of time by making a lengthy list of names of friends and loved ones who have different needs. It was a distinct privelege to address those needs to God at this special holy site.

I realize this commentary has been more religious than usual. In a few days I will address the more mundane and secular experiences of the journey to Israel. Until then, Shalom!

Copywrite, March 16, 2009 by Carolyn Abell