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Rep. Emily Virgin hosts 2nd Muslim Iftar Dinner at Oklahoma State Capitol!

Last night, Rep. Emily Virgin (D Norman) hosted the 2nd Iftar dinner at the Oklahoma State Capitol.  She tweeted how proud and honored she was to host it:

 

I first read about this in a tweet from CAIR National:

An Iftar dinner is a religious dinner observed by Muslims.  The link that CAIR tweeted was to a AP story about it.  Oklahoma senators Tom Ivester and John Sparks also hosted it.  I asked Rep. Virgin, via a tweet, this morning who funded the dinner. So far, nothing.  As a Oklahoma taxpayer, I want to know.  Another question I have for Rep. Emily Virgin is what religious dinners were held at the Oklahoma State Capitol that honored Christian, Jewish or other faiths in the last two years.  When I asked her a similar question last year she said she didn't know"

I tweeted Rep. Virgin a number of times since then to ask that a similar dinner be held to honor the Christian faith - which she just ignored.

 Update 8/2/12:  Rep. Emily Virgin yesterday evening told me by Twitter the dinner was privately funded.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Happy Holidays everyone! 

I want to wish all my Christian friends and readers a very Merry Christmas!  Your support means so much to me.   2012 will be an important year for Christians and everyone, really.  We need to become more knowledgeable - more vocal - so we can stand up for what's right together.

God Bless

 

Tulsa progressives boot "Christmas" from title of decades old parade!

Somewhere along the line mostly conservative Tulsa became hostage to some progressives. For one thing, the local paper's editorial writers are stance liberals which is why I don't subscribe to it. In early 2009,  they laid off 28 employees and last year they put in a pay-wall similar to what the liberal New York Times has done which makes their online news a closed-source. I would venture to guess their polarizing ideological views are so contrary to the majority of Tulsans might have, in some small way. contributed. Tulsa is also home to billionaire Obama bundle George Kaiser who is embroiled in the Solyndra controversy. 

Rep. Emily Virgin will you host a dinner at the Oklahoma State Capitol for a Christian holiday like you did for Ramadan?

On the 17th of August, for the first time in history Oklahoma Muslims prayed on floor of State Capitol at Inaugural Iftar dinner.  The event was hosted by Rep. Emily Virgin (D Norman) who had tweeted about it although she left off the key word - Iftar, which is specific to the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. 

Oklahoma Muslims prayed on floor of State Capitol at Inaugural Iftar dinner!

 Interesting...

 
(photo credit Bryan Jones Oklahoman)

The Meaning of Christmas

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

 

Christian persecution plaques millions!

Pope Benedict XVI calls for respect of religious freedom in his message for peace for World Day of Peace on January 1st.  This video also discusses the persecution of Christians which is very pronounced.

Video:

 

Pakistani Christian woman sentenced to death for her faith!

From the Pakistan Christian Post: "Lahore: November 9, 2010. (PCP) A Christian woman named Asia Bibi was sentenced to death by District and Session Courts after year long trial on accusation of blasphemy filed by Muslim villagers of Ittanwali, where she was residing from generations.

Deadliest Iraqi Catholic church attack, scores dead

Recently, the Pope warned about the perils of Christians in the Middle East. Yesterday, one more reason was made very clear when a Catholic Church was attacked: 

Iraq's dwindling Christian community was grieving and afraid on Monday after militants seized a Baghdad church during evening Mass, held the congregation hostage and triggered a raid by Iraqi security forces. The bloodbath left at least 58 people killed and 78 wounded - nearly everyone inside.

The attack, claimed by an al-Qaida-linked organization, was the deadliest ever recorded against Iraq's Christians, whose numbers have plummeted since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion as the community has fled to other countries.

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Also see:

Pope denounces 'ferocious' attack on Baghdad church

Christians: A declining community in Middle East

Middle East Synod conclusion: Challenges mark Church's future‎

Vatican synod sees growing concern over Islam‎

Vatican: Arab Christains threatened by rise in political Islam

There are continuing problems for Christians in the Middle East:

Arab Christians face political Islam threat-official says:

Vatican City:  "The rise of political Islam in the Middle East poses a threat to Christians in the Arab world and must be faced down together, a senior Roman Catholic official told a synod of Catholic bishops on Monday.

At the two week meeting to debate how to protect minority communities in the region and encourage harmony with Muslims, the Catholic Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria, Antonios Naguib, also said that attacks against Christians were on the rise due to growing fundamentalism in the region.

"Since 1970, we have witnessed the rise of political Islam in the region, consisting of many different religious currents, which has affected Christians, especially in the Arab world," said Naguib. "This phenomenon seeks to impose the Islamic way of life on all citizens, at times using violent methods, thus becoming a threat which we must face together.

...Difficulties in the relations between Christians and Muslims generally arise when Muslims do not distinguish between religion and politics," Naguib said.

"On this basis, Christians sense an uneasiness at being considered non-citizens, despite the fact that they have called these countries 'home' long before Islam..."

Shocking: textbooks favor Islam

Islamists have infiltrated our country.  These religious supremacists partner with the left who help them push their agenda forward.  Apparently, they have already had some success in trying to whitewash Islamic history and denigrate Christianity in some school textbooks.

The good news is they have been busted by the Texas Education Board and others!  A non-binding resolution condeming these books could take place today in Texas.

TEA Board Members claim some history books have "Pro-Islam" Bias:

 

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Also see:

Some U.S. textbooks rewrite history! 8/24/10 post

Federal judge rules graduate student can be dismissed for opposing gays

Here's an interesting case which show rigid Biblical beliefs can get you kicked out of grad school:

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Eastern Michigan University by a student who was kicked out of its graduate program in school counseling last year for refusing, on religious grounds, to affirm homosexual behavior in serving clients.

In an order granting summary judgment to the university on Monday, Judge George Caram Steeh of the U.S. District Court in Detroit held that the university's requirement that the student be willing to serve people who are homosexual was reasonable, and did not amount to an infringement of the Christian student's constitutional rights to free speech and free expression of religion.

...The Alliance Defense Fund, a coalition of Christian lawyers that is helping to represent the student, Julea Ward, issued a statement on Tuesday saying it plans to appeal the judge's decision.

"Christian students shouldn't be expelled for holding to and abiding by their beliefs," said David French, a senior counsel for the group, which helped out in a similar lawsuit filed against Augusta State University, in Georgia, this month

I don't share the sames views at this student but I am a Christian.  I've known a number of gays over the years and found them to be some of the best and bravest people I've had the privilege of knowing.  

Do you think rigid religious views can be damaging to a society?

Muslim attorney to hold rally for four Christians arrested at Arab festival

How refreshing to see efforts being made to right what appears to be a wrong in Dearborn, Michigan:

A Muslim attorney from Dearborn plans to hold a rally on Monday to express support for the four Christian missionaries arrested last month for allegedly disturbing the peace at an Arab festival.

Majed Moughni said the rights of the four Christians were violated when police arrested them on July 19 during the Arab International Festival, one of the biggest gathering of Arab-Americans in the U.S. The missionaries claim that Islam promotes violence and want to convert Muslims to Christianity.

"They should never have been arrested," said Moughni, who is Arab-American and Muslim. "They have a constitutional right to freedom of speech and religion."

Moughni said that the rights of the missionaries should be respected even if people disagree with their views or aggressive tactics.

...Moughi was the organizer of the anti-terrorism rally in January outside the federal courthouse in Detroit during a hearing for the Christmas Day bomber. After organizing the rally, Moughni received a death threat from a Muslim man in Europe linked to a plot to kill a cartoonist who drew Islam's prophet, Mohammed.

Two Pakistani Christians charged with blasphemy against Islam; murdered in court

Disturbing news from Pakistan:

Gunmen kill 2 Pakistani Christians before trial for blasphemy: minister

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Also see:

Pakistan city tense after 'blaspheming' Christians shot (BBC News 6/20/10)

Note:  In Catholic Culture they report the story: Pakistan: 2 Christians accused of blasphemy released and did not mention they were shot and killed.

Hamas spy and Christian convert granted asylum

The son of a key Hamas leader was granted asylum in the U.S., yesterday.   Raised a Muslim, Masab Hassan Yousef, converted to Christianity and wrote he would be killed because he spied for Israel in his application for asylum.

Over a year ago, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ruled that Mosab Hassan Yousef should be denied asylum because he has “engaged” in terrorist activity” and is a “danger to the security of the United States.”

On Wednesday, however, Homeland Security officials indicated they were prepared to grant Yousef asylum, taking back their initial intention, after claiming to have received new information which brought a new view on the case.

In a statement following Wednesday's ruling, the pro-Israel think-tank EMET, who had aided Youself in his attempts to be granted asylum, said that they were "enormously grateful to all those who played a part in standing with Mosab during this time, and helping the Department of Homeland Security come to understand what a grave error deporting Mosab would have been."

The son of one of Hamas' founders argued before Judge Rico Bartolomei at the San Diego court that he will be killed if he is deported because he spied on the militant group for the Shin Bet security's intelligence agency for ten years and abandoned Islam for Christianity.

Four Christians arrested outside Arab Festival in Dearborn, Michigan!!!

Below is a Fox News Video of a recent arrest of four Christians who were standing outside of an Arab Festval holding Christians phamlets, if anyone wanted them: 

 

The Thomas More Law Center is going to represent these Christians in their right to stand on a public sidewalk.  There's more information and videos at the Thomas More Law Center.
 

Miss USA said there's more Catholics than Muslims in Lebonon!

In the first of a two-part interview posted on Al Jazeera yesterday, Rima Fakih, the new Miss USA said most people think Lebonon is mainly Muslim and tried to correct that perception by saying there were probably more Catholics than Muslims in Lebonon (at the 8:40 minute mark).  There is just one problem - she's totally wrong.

According to the 2008 Religious Freedom Report:

...However, the most recent demographic study conducted by Statistics Lebanon, a Beirut-based research firm, showed 28 percent of the population is Sunni Muslim, 28 percent Shi'a Muslim, 22 percent Maronite Christian, 8 percent Greek Orthodox, 5 percent Druze, and 4 percent Greek Catholic.  Over the past 60 years, there has been a steady decline in the number of Christians as compared to Muslims, mostly due to the emigration of large numbers of Maronite Christians and a higher than average birth rate among the Muslim population.

Catholic bishop murdered in Turkey

A leading figure for Christians in the Middle East, Bishop Luigi Padovese. was murdered in his home today in southern Turkey.  His driver has been arrested.

...Church officials in Rome expressed worry over the killing.

"I can only express shock, worry and solidarity with the local Catholic community over this," Father Federico Lombardi, the chief Vatican spokesman, told reporters in Rome.

Fr Lombardi said Pope Benedict would speak out about violence against minority Christian communities in the Middle East during his trip to Cyprus, which begins tomorrow.

Bishop Padovese's murder comes four years after a Catholic priest, Andrea Santoro, was murdered in the Turkish Black Sea town of Trabzon by a teenager with suspected links to ultra-nationalists.

In 2007, three members of a Bible publishing company, one of whom was a German citizen, were tortured and killed in the central Turkish town of Malatya.

Today Al Qaeda Orders Abduction of Christians, Royals in Saudi Arabia over a female prisoner and yesterday an Afghan Parliamentarian Calls for Execution of Christians who have converted from Islam.

Meanwhile, CAIR and other American Islamic organizations and the Obama administration refuse to acknowledge Islamism - political Islam and its quest for Islamic supreamacy and power.

Ousted Rev. Franklin Graham will pray at the Pentagon

Rev. Franklin Graham was uninvited from giving a prayer at the Pentagon today because a few Muslims complained because he had the audacity to disagree and criticize the teachings of Islam!  But, that didn't stop Rev. Graham from going to the Pentagon to pray outside today as a citizen of this great country.

Franklin Graham soldiers on, prays at Pentagon

Below is a recent interview with Rev. Graham with NewsMax:

 Also see:

Pence urges re-invitation of Graham

Rev. Graham: I Don't Have to Be Invited to Pentagon to Pray for Our Troops

Is no one allowed to criticize Islam in America?

In the Middle East,  those who live under Sharia law face the possibility of death if they criticize Islam.  The undeniable religious supremacist nature of Islamic rule cannot be overlooked or ignored.

In America, CAIR, an organization founded by the Islamic supremacist Muslim Brotherhood, goes for the jugular of public officials who criticize Islam.  CAIR and their leftist partners. the dhimmicrats often work hand-in-hand to impose this same Islamic law onto non-Muslims - although they word-smith it so it's not so obvious but the intent is the same. 

The OIC, alleged to have possible ties to CAIR, is a Saudi-based and backed inter-governmental Islamist agency working to get a binding resolution approved at the U.N. that would make criticizing Islam illegal - worldwide, down to the local, state and national level.  They have already been successful in getting several non-binding resolutions passed. 

Americans had better wake up to what is going on here before it's too late.

The latest official on the hot seat this week is Rev. Franklin Graham who is scheduled to be the speaker at the Pentagon's National Day of Prayer on May 6th.  But, not if CAIR and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation get their way.  They want him uninvited.  CAIR whines that Rev. Graham said Muslims are enslaved by Islam.  But, isn't it true that Muslim cannot leave their religion in Islamic countries?  Can Rev. Graham not state this fact?  Can he also not say he does not believe in Islam?  

Think about this, anytime a Muslim recites the Quran they repeat verses that are anti-any other religion but Islam.   This is a book that makes it clear that Muslims believe Islam is the final religion that should rein over all others.  Hypocritcs?

Rev. Graham has the right to criticize Islam or any religion he wants.  Just as I do and just as you do.

Christ has risen! The true meaning of Easter

Here's what one Tulsa man does every Good Friday

H/T:  Tulsa World

Christians attacked in Pakistan; Diplomat summoned

These are the stories that give Islam such a bad name:

Italy: Diplomat summoned over attacks on Christians in Pakistan

Presidential Council of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership recommendations mentions Christians only once!

America is a country whose religious majority are overwhelmingly Christians.  The Presidential Council of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership issued a report on Tuesday consisting of 176 pages of recommendations going forward.  While,  I haven't had a chance to read the report I did a search for the word Christians and it came up only one time!  I entered the word Muslims and it came up 21 times!  Muslims in America make up around 1% of the population,  but you wouldn't know it from the report.

Unbelievable.

CAIR highlights article calling Bible organization extremist group!

Hamas-linked CAIR has an article from The Independent on their website which they titled Anti-Muslim NC Rep. Linked to Extremist Group which claims  U.S. Representative Sue Myrick is aligned with a right-wing Evangelical group, The National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools. 

The horror!

screen shot of CAIR website taken 11:45 am CT

U.S. adminstration wants to stop bill on Armenian "genocide"

During the last Islamic caliphate (the Ottoman Empire)  as many as 1.5 million Armenians, men, women and many children,  were murdered or starved to death.  Many were Christians.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a resolution to recognize these murders as genocide on Thursday even though the White House asked that the vote not occur. 

Turkey recalled their ambassador to the U.S. after the vote.

President Bush also asked that a bill not be brought forth back in 2007 and a similar resolution passed in 2000 never made it to the floor for a final vote, either.

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Also see:

Turkey threatens 'serious consequences' after US vote on Armenian genocide

...Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, who is on a visit to South America, stressed that both she and Obama opposed the house vote and wanted to see it go no further. She said any action by Congress was not appropriate. "We do not believe that the full Congress will, or should, act upon that resolution, and we have made that clear to all the parties involved."

Asked how she squared her support for the Armenian campaign on the election campaign trail with her new position, she said circumstances had changed, with the Turkish and Armenian governments engaged in talks on normalisation and a historical commission established to look at past events.

Armenian National Institute

Documentation United Nations War Crimes Commission 

A similar resolution was passed in 2000 and 2007 but never brought to a full vote.

Armenian News index

Armenians refuse to let genocide be forgotten 2005

Crimes so immense Turkey's 1915 genocide against Armenians warrants …
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive - Apr 11, 2001
The Armenian genocide inflict ed, directly or indirectly, by the Sul tan, ... symposium held 1700 years after the Armenian tribe ac cepted Christianity, ...

Ten churches in East Texas burned since first of the year

For some horrible reason  ten churches in east Texas have been destroyed or damaged by fire so far.  The last two were Monday night in Smith County.  Another news report said the ATF said it was too early to call the last two fires arson,  but were suspicious.

These crimes appear to be the deliberate destruction of a place of worship and should be investigated by the FBI as hate crimes. There appears to be a growing intolerance for Christians in our country.  Think about it - our public officials can't speak in public about the Christian majority in America without being raked over the coals. 

Something is not right here.

The Christian community in America should become more unified and work as one against those who seek to stop it. 

A tip line has been set up:  903-675-0061 or 903-675-0062 or 1-888-ATF-FIRE

1500 year old buried street found in Jerusalem!

An ancient street found buried 14 feet below ground in Jerusalem appears to confirm the accuracy of a mosaic map found recently in a Jordanian church:

Mayor Rex Parris clarifies Christian remarks

CAIR, an organization ID'd by the FBI in court documents as an outgrowth of the Muslim Brotherhood/Hamas infrastructure in America, has scored another big one.  They have been successful in getting clarification from Mayor Rex Parris from Lancaster, CA for his "Christian community" remarks a couple weeks ago.

CAIR threw their full weight against this mayor, as they do other officials to force them to gravel - apologize or whatever - because they speak in public about our country's Christian majority.  This time CAIR threatened to file a complaint with the Department of Justice. 

It is a sad, sad day in America when our own public officials can't speak about the faith that's the clear majority in America.  It's especially disturbing since CAIR's roots come from an Islamic supremacist organization banned in other parts of the world.

Video:

 

Christian father and daughter fear for life in Egypt

Video:

 

 

Rifqa Bary's parents reject court agreement

The Muslim parents of Rifqa Bary, Mohamed and Aysha Bary, withdrew their consent Thursday of a plan that allowed their daughter, now a Christian, to remain in foster care  until she turns 18.  They alleged misrepresentation.

The Bary's claim Rifqa has been allowed to communicate with a Florida pastor.

Our Judeo-Christian Nation by Rep. Randy Forbes

Congressman Randy Forbes asks the questions "Did America ever consider itself a Judeo-Christian nation?" and "If America was once a Judeo-Christian nation, when did it cease to be?"

H/T: Christygoodlife - thanks

Dr. Bruce Prescott about your Mainstream Baptists blog...

 
Dr. Prescott:

I see that you haven't approved my comment on your post that declared CAIR OK was not a front for terrorists on your blog Mainstream Baptists.  Maybe you have been too busy to read it. 

Poll reveals Americans more prejudice against Muslims than Christians

Four Americans in ten said in a Gallup poll they felt at least a little prejudice towards Muslims - which is more than twice the number who felt the same towards Christians.  Could it psssible be because there are no large global Christianic movements working to create a Christianic supremacist state supported by multiple Christianic martyr attacks daily?  AND, the fact that many of our Muslim neighbors have Islamist organizations in America ID'd by the FBI as outgrowths of the Islamic supremacist Muslim Brotherhood infrastructure in America who speak for them?

Jesus-era home uncovered in Nazareth

Magnificant news that Israel finds remains of Jesus-era home in Nazareth :

Israeli archaeologists have uncovered a home dating to the time of Jesus in the town of Nazareth where he is said to have spent the better part of his life, the antiquities authority said Monday.

The remains were found near the Basilica of the Annunciation, built on the ruins of three earlier churches on the site where Christians believe Mary was told by the angel Gabriel that she would give birth to Jesus.

"The discovery is of the utmost importance since it reveals for the very first time a house from the Jewish village of Nazareth and thereby sheds light on the way of life at the time of Jesus," said Yardenna Alexandre, who is heading the excavation.

"The building that we found is small and modest, and it is most likely typical of the dwellings in Nazareth in that period."

Quote: State Senator Larry Shaw and CAIR's president called Christians extremists!

In an interview in the FayObserver posted yesterday, the president of CAIR, Larry Shaw, who is also a State Senator from North Carolina, was quoted as saying Christians were extremists:

"...You have extremists on the right," the seven-term senator said. "Christians, Ku Klux Klan, Nazis. All kinds of Islamic fanatics. All of them claim to speak for the majority, and that's unfortunate."

Shaw has been chairman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, since March. The 15-year-old advocacy group with about 15,000 members has been the target of critics, especially since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the U.S.

Unless Shaw was misquoted here and the paper issues a correction, or I am reading this entirely wrong which I don't think I am,  this senator owes a written apology to all Christians. He could have misspoken which requires a written clarification, as well.

 There are no global movements seeking to create a fundamentalist Christianic state in countries throughout the world.  Nor are there Christianic terrorists attackings others daily in the name of their religion. 

But there are Islamist movements. 

Orthodox priest murdered in Russia after being threatened

A young Russian priest, who had received threatening e-mails for preaching to Muslims about Christianity, was murdered last night in Russia by a man wearing a surgical mask who walked up to him in his church, Church of the Apostle Thomas in Moscow:

...The gunman approached priest Daniil Sysoyev, 34, in St Thomas Church in southern Moscow Thursday night, checked his name and then opened fire with a pistol, a spokesman for the investigating committee of the Prosecutor-General's office said.

...Sysoyev was from Tatarstan, a predominantly Muslim region of Russia on the Volga river. He was threatened after preaching to Muslims and Christians from other denominations.

...Russia is home to Europe's largest Muslim community (about 20 million) and Islam is the country's second-biggest faith, something which Sysoyev criticized.

...Russia's Chief Mufti Ravil Gainuddin expressed his condolences to the Orthodox Church and to Sysoyev's family. He cautioned against assigning blame prematurely or speculating about the motives for the killing.

Rifqa Bary ordered to return to Ohio by Florida judge

A Florida judge has ordered teenage runaway, Rifqa Bary, to return to her home state of Ohio, after proof her immigration papers are in order.  A hearing is set for October 23rd to address these issues prior to the transfer.  Once in Ohio, she will be placed in foster care. 

Bary ran away from home for fear she would be killed or harmed by her father after she converted to Christianity.  Her parents are Muslims.

CAIR complains about Bible Study form - school apologizes

CAIR, sprung from the Muslim Brotherhood/Hamas infrastructure in America, wrote a formal letter to Huron Park Elementary in Roseville, Michigan complaining that Bible study forms from a neighborhood church were sent home with students was inappropriate.

CAIR, is probably the most two-faced Islamist organization in America!  They won't hesitate to ask that Muslim students be released from school for Friday prayers, or send 100,000 Qurans to public officials or go into your child's school to speak about Islam and painting it as a natural progression from Christianity. 

As an unidicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation Hamas terror funding trial, CAIR's reputation is significantly tainted.  Yet, schools and politicians cave to them in disturbing ways.

Pope meets with president of Pakistan over treatment of Christians

Video of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari as he met with Pope Benedict XVI today at the papal residence in Castel Gandalfo. :

Rifqa Bary to remain in Florida - parents file complaint

For now Rifqa Bary, the Christian teenager who ran away from home, will remain in Florida a judge ruled today.  But Ohio is likely to seek jurisdiction. 

Also,  her parents filed a complaint with the Florida police department against the Christian family who first helped her after she arrived in Florida,  They called authorities on her behalf right away, if I recall correctly.

Video:

Baptist Minister speaks about Rifqa Bary

Ergun Caner is a Baptist minister who lives in Virginia with his wife and kids.  Recently, he was interviewed about Rifqa Bary, the 17 year-old girl who fled her home in Ohio to Florida out of fear for her life after she converted to Christianity. 

It might interest you to know that Caner, too, was a Muslim in Ohio who became a Christian at age 16:

"...In her Aug. 30 sworn affidavit, the 17-year-old (Bary) said in June her father was pressured by leaders of the family mosque, the Noor Islamic Cultural Center in Columbus, to deal with reports they had received concerning Rifqa’s Christian conversion.

“In a fit of anger that I had never seen before in my life, he picked up my lap top, waived it over my head as if to strike me with it and said, ‘If you have this Jesus in your heart, you are dead to me! You are no longer my daughter,’” Rifqa said in the affidavit.

...Brian Williams, a 21-year-old friend of Rifqa, contacted FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) on Aug. 28, noting that he filed a report with the Columbus Police Department that she had told him about her father’s threat and her mother finding Christian materials in July. Williams also told FDLE he baptized Rifqa in June. He also said he drove Rifqa from a friend’s house to the bus station when she decided to flee.

...The FDLE report noted during the Aug. 27 interview with the Bary family, two officials of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) were present, including CAIR attorney Romin Iqbal who characterized honor killings as “cultural and tribal, not related directly to the Islamic religious practice.”

...According to Ergun Mehmet Caner, the FDLE report is an example of “political correctness” that may endanger Rifqa’s life.  “Her blood, which is almost certain to be shed if returned, is on their hands. The police and judicial branch in Florida were her last hope,” Caner said in a Sept. 15 interview with Florida Baptist Witness..."

Carner also told the Witness that a fatwa for his death was issued last year and he takes extra security precations.  He said “Death for apostasy from Islam is firmly rooted in the most sacred Muslim texts,” citing the Qur’an and the Hadith, collections about Islam’s prophet, Muhammad.“There is also a consensus by all four schools of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence, as well as Shi’ite jurists, that apostates from Islam must be put to death,” he said.  Rifqa, he said, brings dishonor to her family by her Christian faith. 

He was critical, too,  that CAIR was present during an interview with Bary's family.

Goveror Strickland of Ohio apparently issued a statement on the 11th that Rifqa should be returned to Ohio where officials there can protect her.

Fatwa in Egypt: Sin to construct churches

(photo from Washington DC rally for Coptic Christians)   

It's well known that it is hard to get a church built in a country under Sharia Law.  In Egypt recently controversy rose over a clarification fatwa that seems to emphasize Sharia law's Islamic supremacy goals: 

A controversial Fatwa (Islamic edict) prohibiting the construction of new churches in Egypt has provoked considerable discussion and spiraled into a crisis, involving the FatwaCouncil, Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh, Christian and Muslim religious personalities, and the media. It was also reported on 8/26/2009 that the jurists who issued the Fatwa are under investigation on orders of the Grand Mufti and the Justice Minister (z: probably just for show) 

The Fatwa (Arabic) in question was issued by the Al-Azhar affiliated "Dar el-Eftta" -- Fatwa Council for Islamic interpretations of laws in Islam. It stated "the will of a Muslim towards building a Church is a sin against God, just as if he left his inheritance towards building a nightclub, a gambling casino, or building a barn for rearing pigs, cats or dogs."

To highlight the reason for this "sin" the Fatwa went on to state: "Salvation in the Christian religion is the belief in Jesus as Lord, where Muslims fundamentally disagree on it. Muslims believe that Issa [Jesus in Arabic] peace be upon him, is a slave of Allah and His Messenger, and that Allah is one. He begets not and He is not begotten and there is none like unto Him. So if it is seen that one sect has deviated from this absolute Monotheism, then according to that person's own religion he is forbidden to donate for the erection of buildings where Allah is not worshiped alone."

A Coptic priest in Egypt, Rev. Estefanos Shehata, who has tried for two years to convert part of his home into a church had a death fatwa issued against him recently.

These are the Islamic laws that American Muslim leaders need to stand up against but won't.  You have to ask yourself why.

When President Mubarak of Egypt visited President Obama last month, Egyptian Coptic Christians Protested for Human Rights, Equality in Washington.

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Also see:

U.S. Copts Association

Free Copts

Copts United

Court to rule on jurisdiction of Christian convert Rifqa Bary

A court hearing is underway in Tampa, Florida regarding 17 year-old Rifqa Bary, a Christian convert from Islam, who fears for her life.

WDBO is live blogging the hearing here.  Below is the latest:

This case is about jurisdiction, whether she can stay in the care of the Florida Department of Children and Families, or whether she has to be turned over to Ohio authorities.

..."Rifqa wants to be here," said one of her lawyers.

....update: A hearing is set for September 3rd at 2:30 p.m.  A dependency petition will be argued at that time.

update:  Rafqa is making her statement to the court. "I've been a christian for 4 years of my life. I love my parents but I am in fear of my life because of the past abuse. I assure your honor Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. I am a Christian, a believer."

...Rifqa will spend some time with her younger brothers, but does not want to meet with her parents at this time.

update: Rifqa is staying in a foster home. Her foster parents are not willing to allow supervised visitation of Rifqa's family or friends right now. The judge is recommending DCF take charge of the issue and hold these meetings in an outside location where it can be videotaped. 

...The hearing ended at 4:07 p.m.

The judge has ruled jurisdiction is in Florida, for now.

Update 8/24/09:  Not surprisingly, Time Magazine, which is owned by Timer Warner who also owns CNN,  - both spinners of the leftist ideology, hints in an article titled, A Florida Culture-War Circus Over Rifqa Bary, that if Bary's story is false this "saga" could be the result of a Crusades-era belief brainwashing and that Rifqa left home after a "dispute", rather than fear for her life as Rifqa said herself. A Muslim writer, Mohammad Anwar, wasted no "time" in his piece Case of Rifqa Barry, another attempt to defame Islam to bolster his claim that Bary's case is an attempt to defame Islam and spread hate against the religion and there is no such thing as honor killing in Islam. 

Yet, in Pakistan today, it was reported a man killed his wife and two daughters over honor.  And on the 13th of August, the Vancouver Sun reported Honour killings' of girls and women on the rise in Canada: expert, including a quadruple killing there in June.

According, to several reports, Bary's parents attend the Noor Islamic Cultural Center in Toledo, Ohio.  This mosque has been known for hosting some questionable speakers here and here

Update 9/4/09:  Judge in Rifa Bary case "willing to chance" mediation effort  WDBO Radio -  He further ordered them not to speak to the media about the case. The order does not apply to the principals, Rifqa or her parents back in Ohio.

The next hearing is scheduled for September 29.

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Also see:

zTruth : Rifqa Bary, a young Christian convert in her own words 

8/24/09 From a former Muslim, Nonie Darwash titled Saving Rafqa :

Apostates are to be given three days to repent and return to Islam. If the apostate refuses, he or she will be killed immediately. Books on Islamic Sharia agree unanimously on this point. For instance, Muslim scriptures such as the Sahih Hadith by the prophet Mohammad 9:50 states: "No Umma [a member of the Muslim community] should be killed for killing a Kaffir [an infidel]. . . Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him."

2. It is obligatory for a Muslim caliph to ask the apostate to repent and return to Islam. If he does, his return to the fold is accepted; but if he refuses, he must be killed.

3. There is no indemnity for killing an apostate, nor is there any expiation required, since killing an apostate is tantamount to killing someone who deserves to die.

4. The testimony of apostates is not admissible in Sharia courts.

5. An apostate cannot claim an inheritance from Muslim parents.

6. The marriage of an apostate is immediately dissolved if the spouse is and remains Muslim.

10/2/07:  Christianity's Image Problem - TIME:  ...It used to be, says David Kinnaman, that Christianity was both ... Rather, he sees resentment as focused on perceived Christian attitudes. ...

9/13/04:  TIME Magazine: The Struggle For The Soul of Islam:  A TIME cover story explaining the The Struggle For The Soul of Islam.

3/11/07:  JORDAN: Honour killings still tolerated

 

Florida principal could face fine and/or jail time for prayer

Florida principal, Frank Lay,  could face fines or jail time or both for violating an order NOT to preach religion at school:

...Last August, the American Civil Liberties Union sued the Santa Rosa County School Board, then-Superintendent John Rogers and (Pace High School Principal Frank)Lay on behalf of two unnamed Pace High students.

Citing examples throughout the district, the students said school officials violated the Constitution by promoting their religious beliefs in schools.

For years, Lay had done exactly that, according to supporters and critics alike, and his actions had gone largely unchallenged.

...Within a few months, the district admitted the allegations and hammered out an agreement that would take religion out of the classroom.

U.S. District Judge Casey Rodgers approved the agreement. A temporary injunction was issued on Jan. 19, then was made permanent on May 6.

Nine days later, after Lay signed the temporary injunction, he was accused of violating the order.

...On Jan. 28, he asked the school athletic director, Robert Freeman, to "bless the food" at a luncheon at Pace High for school personnel and booster club members instrumental in helping get a new fieldhouse. The school's culinary class prepared the meal.

Four-term School Board member Jo Ann Simpson, who was at the luncheon, couldn't believe her ears.

She reported what happened to Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick and the district's lawyers.

...Last month, after a series of legal filings, Rodgers ordered Lay and Freeman to appear on criminal contempt charges alleging they violated her order.

Their hearing is set for Sept. 17, and the possible punishment could range from fines to jail.

Religion should be kept out of all schools, period.

Suit filed after Muslim principal fires Christian coach

A former coach sues Dearborn schools in Michigan because his former assistant, a pastor,  caused him to be fired by Muslim principal, Imad Fadlallah, he claims.  As most of you know, it is against Islamic law to preach the Gospel of Jesus to a Muslim in Islamic ruled countries.  But, this happened in America!  

As is the casee in all lawsuits, facts presented will determine if there is any merit to the coach's claim.

A former high school wrestling coach who is Christian filed a lawsuit Monday against Dearborn Public Schools and a high school principal who is Muslim, saying he was terminated because of his association with an assistant who had helped convert a Muslim student to Christianity.

The suit was filed in Detroit by a Livonia law firm and attorneys with the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor.

Jerry Marszalek, a longtime wrestling coach at Fordson High School in Dearborn, was let go last year by the district, which did not renew his contract.

The lawsuit says that the district and Imad Fadlallah, principal at Fordson High School, violated constitutional rights to free speech and exercise of religion, and Michigan laws against discrimination.

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Also see:

5/30/08:  Muslim principal fires wrestling coach; alleges his assistant converted Muslims

...According to Schlussel, the principal's cousin is Hezbollah spirtual leader, Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Fadlallah who is on the State Department Terrorist List and issued the fatwa to Hezbollah terrorists to murder over 300 U.S. Marines and U.S. Embassy officials. But in 2005, Hancock came under attack by some Muslims after he baptized in Port Huron a Muslim student from Dearborn.

..."If people want to come to Jesus, I'm here for them," Hancock said. He added that such activities were done outside Fordson and the wrestling team..."

Christian homes burned in Pakistan after broadcasts from mosques

According to Persecution.org,  this morning 100 Christian homes and churches were burned in the city of Kasur South in Pakistan after broadcasts were made from mosques in the area.  This organization also urges us to call Pakistani embassies worldwide to ask for protection for Christians in their country.

Pakistan US Embassy:  202 243-6500

Pope calls for coorperation among religions

Today, Pope Benedict XVI made a plea from a mosque in Jordan for the world's religions to get along.  He also expressed concern for Christians and other non-Muslims who live in Islamic nations:

"Pope Benedict XVI, speaking at a mosque in Amman, Jordan, also expresses concern about the discrimination that he says Christians and others face in Islamic nations such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

Pope Benedict XVI today called on Christians and Muslims to serve mankind with the "light of God's truth" while warning that extremists in nations such as Iraq were exploiting religious differences for political and violent agendas.

...During his speech, the pontiff made note of Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, patriarch of the Chaldean Church, Iraq's largest Christian denomination. Tens of thousands of Christians have fled Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and subsequent sectarianism.

"I urge diplomats and the international community they represent, together with local political and religious leaders, to do everything possible to ensure the ancient Christian community of that noble land its fundamental right to peaceful coexistence with their fellow citizens," the pope said."

LA Times

Video on Al-Jazeera: U.S. Military church service shares Christian faith

There's a video being shown on Al Jazeera TV today, no doubt, to paint a U.S. Military church service in Afghanistan in a bad light since these brave men and women  talked about how they share their faith.

Naturally, the far-left and the Islamists would be all upset by this video.  I say more power to our military.  They have a right to practice their faith. 

Christians have to stand strong in today's times or we could end up like Egypt, a once thriving Christian country.

The war,  or the politically correct and stupid phrase under the Obama administration; the "Overseas Contigency Operations", we are carrying out to save others and ourselves is really a struggle and a fight against a strict or literal interpretation of Islam which puts Islamic law at its core.  This fight likely will threaten the entire world for decades to come. Included in the literal interpretation are verses in the Quran that states Islam must dominate over all other religions.

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Also see:

US denies letting troops convert Afghans

Reuters - ‎6 hours ago‎

Trying to convert Muslims to any other faith is a crime in Afghanistan. An Afghan man who converted to Christianity was sentenced to death for apostasy in ...

 

Afghan calls for Bible distribution probe United Press International

The vilification of a Christian by the far-left: Miss California

First, it was the odd question posed to Miss California, Carrie Prejean,  by gay judge, Perez Hilton.  It was a no-win question and he knew it was when he asked it. 

Then, it was Hilton's foul verbal and abusive attacks on her captured on his webcam that was seen by millions across America and all the others who made verbal attacks against her.

Topping it all of, the Miss California pageant itself outed the fact they paid for Miss California's breast implants. 

Retaliation? 

The good new is HIlton's actions were soundly blasted by another gay man as embarrassing and disgraceful and gives all gays and lesbians a bad wrap. He also said Hilton and other liberals only communicate with insults. A line was crossed, he pointed out.  I applaud this man for standing up for sound common sense.

Can you believe how low and degrading this has become?  The attacks against Carrie Prejean might be classified as religious persecution against a Christian by the left. 

It needs to stop.  

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To hear what one fellow gay man had to say to Hilton watch video below:

(Warning:  some may find offensive one particularly term used by this man towards Hilton.  He also repeated the foul language used against Prejean by Hilton but the overall his verbal disgust with Hilton's actions are worth it):

4:52 (audio only)

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Also see:

Miss California: The anti-gay-marriage martyr extends her 15 minutes Entertainment Weekly

Pics don't lie: Michael Phelps and Carrie Prejean get cozy in Vegas Los Angeles Times

Perez Hilton takes back apology to Miss California, gets even nastier Kansas City Star

Miley Cyrus pro-gay messages set Christian conservatives all a-Twitter Metro Weekly

New ad warns same-sex ‘marriage' activists want to silence opposition

Catholic News Agency - ‎Apr 30, 2009‎

The ad, titled “No Offense,” also refers to attacks on beauty pageant contestant Carrie Prejean, Miss California, after she expressed her support for ...

 

Shuster Again: Attacks Traditional Marriage Advocate; Asks If He ... NewsBusters

 

Two Hot Topics Heat Up the Net

Pew Research Center - ‎May 1, 2009‎

"Carrie Prejean, Miss California and runner-up Miss America 2009, shows us how it's done when the Left tries to smear you." "I guess what I really a happy ...

 

Intolerance in full view

Times Press Recorder - ‎22 hours ago‎

We can see in recent responses to Miss California, Carrie Prejean, that hate, bigotry, intolerance, vilifying and bullying are really being thrown at her by ...

Symbol of Jesus's name covered for President's Obama's speech on the economy!

You can see the golden symbol "IHS", which is Greek for the name of Jesus, with the cross above it in the picture below taken at a panel discussion on US-Russia relations and energy security on December 3rd, 2007:

   

(Getty Images )

During the president's speech on the economy on Tuesday, you can barely see that it was covered up in the photo below:.

But you can see it blacked out better in this photo:

(photos:  Gerald Herbert)

You can also see a good shot of this at the beginning of a CSPAN video here when the camera zooms out around the 20 second mark.

The day after the speech, the name of Jesus and the cross was still covered:

(Photo by Penny Starr, CNSNews.com)

Now get this, according to CBS News, the White House denies they deliberately covered up any symbol of faith:

"The White House is taking some heat today from conservative and Catholic bloggers who noticed that while President Obama delivered remarks on the economy at Georgetown University Tuesday, a monogram that is a symbol for the name Jesus was covered up behind him.

CNSNews.com, a conservative web site affiliated with the Media Research Center, reported that the gold “IHS” monogram inscribed in Georgetown’s Gaston Hall was covered by a piece of black-painted plywood.

The White House denied that there was any effort to specifically cover up religious imagery or symbols and noted that on the wall directly behind the president there are two religious paintings and there is other imagery throughout the hall.

"Decisions made about the backdrop for the speech were made to have a consistent background of American flags, which is standard for many presidential events. Any suggestions to the contrary are simply false,” White House spokesman Shin Inouye told ABC News.

Georgetown officials said that the White House requested the backdrop and asked that all signs and symbols behind the stage be covered up..."

ABC News

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Also see: 

So will Notre Dame need to cover 'Touchdown Jesus' for the Obama ...

Dallas Morning News - ‎10 hours ago‎

We must stop calling Georgetownor Notre Dame a Catholic College. Only a pagan would abide covering the nsme of Jesus. The Notre Dame commencement is in the ...

 

Obama's foreign policy adviser, Dr. Susan Rice, called Obama a "secular Christian"

 

...Dr. Rice's answers were clear and the convincing one. She came with two reasons why Obama would not highlight the Jesus factor. First, senator Obama is a Christian but a secular Christian... "