A Cloud of Witnesses

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."  Hebrews 12:1




 We are compassed about by a cloud of witnesses, whose hearts throb in sympathy with every effort and struggle, and who thrill with joy at every success. How should this thought check and rebuke every worldly feeling and unworthy purpose, and enshrine us, in the midst of a forgetful and unspiritual world, with an atmosphere of heavenly peace! They have overcome -- have risen -- are crowned, glorified; but still they remain to us, our assistants, our comforters, and in every hour of darkness their voice speaks to us: "So we grieved, so we struggled, so we fainted, so we doubted; but we have overcome, we have obtained, we have seen, we have found, -- and in our victory behold the certainty of thy own." -- H. B Stowe

Servants

O turn to me, and have mercy upon me; give Thy strength unto Thy servant, and save the son of Thine handmaid.   --Ps. 86:16

When it is the one ruling, never-ceasing desire of our hearts, that God may be the beginning and end, the reason and motive, the rule and measure, of our doing or not doing, from morning to night; then everywhere, whether speaking or silent, whether inwardly or outwardly employed, we are equally offered up to the eternal Spirit, have our life in Him and from Him, and are united to Him by the Spirit of Prayer which is the comfort, the support, the strength and security of the soul, travelling, by the help of God, through the vanity of time into the riches of eternity. Let us have no thought or care, but how to be wholly His devoted instruments; everywhere and in everything, His adoring, joyful, and thankful servants.  -- Wm. Law

A Devout Muslim is Devoted to Muslims -- Infidels, Not So Much

Understanding Islam and the Koran is just not a fun subject and most of the people I know don’t really care to take the time and lack any interest; what with the time-consuming task of trying to make ends meet economically, it’s just not a high priority.

First off, this will come across as being Islamophobic or viewed as “hate-speech,” but these are just labels those of the Leftist or Marxist ideology use to censor views they don’t agree with regardless of facts or given any consideration of the right to freedom of speech. Thankfully, I’m not overly concerned with what people think about me, so let the ad hominem begin.

While it may seem contradictory, the fact that a devoted Muslim soldier can join the U.S. military and refuse to attack or kill fellow Muslims while plotting to attack and kill fellow Americans, it does in fact make perfect sense. We have just had another planned attack by Pfc. Naser Jason Abdo as an example.

To make sense of the motive in these attacks we need to look at the Islam doctrine called wala wa bara, which translated is “loyalty and enmity”. This doctrine is built on many Koran verses and backed by Sharia (Islamic law). Wala requires Muslims to be loyal to fellow Muslims and would prevent one from attacking or killing a fellow Muslim, i.e. being deployed to a Muslim nation. While this loyalty appears admirable, the flipside is bara which requires Muslims to disassociate themselves from non-Muslims or to be disloyal to them (see al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri’s 60 page treatise titled, “Loyalty and Enmity” in The Al Qaeda Reader by Raymond Ibrahim for details.)

In the Koran 5:51 it literally warns Muslims against “taking the Jews and Christians as friends and allies…whoever among you takes them for friends and allies, he surely is one of them,” i.e., he becomes an infidel; 58:22 states that true Muslims do not befriend non-Muslims – “even if they be their fathers, sons, brothers, or kin.”

The doctrine of taqiyya permits Muslims to deceive infidels and would certainly be helpful when planning harm to fellow soldiers and Abdo then would have no problem openly displaying loyalty to Muslims while trusting that tolerant or sentimental Americans would indulge him while he hid his enmity and disloyalty to those same Americans. This is the Koran’s primary justification for deception in the context of “loyalty and enmity”:

            Let believers not take for friends and allies infidels instead of believers. Whoever does shall have no       relationship with Allah – unless you but guard yourselves against them, taking precautions (3:28).

Mainstream Muslim reference Tabari interprets this verse as:

            Only when you are in their [non-Muslims’] power, fearing for yourselves, are you to demonstrate  friendship for them with your tongues, while harboring hostility toward them. But do not join them in   the particulars of their infidelities, and do not aid them through any action against a Muslim.

So in fact there is no inconsistency between piety (devotion) and prayer on the one hand, and jihad and deceit on the other; all are equally codified in Sharia. Moreover, upholding one doctrine often leads to upholding another; thus loyalty to fellow Muslims is a sure sign of disloyalty to non-Muslims.

We need to wake up and see that all devotion is not the same. All prayer is not the same. No matter how much we wish it were so, it just is not. Using some of our common beliefs and values, from Christianity to secular humanism, they just don’t project well unto Islam. Naming someone as “devoutly religious” can have very different meanings.

TO SPEAK OR NOT TO SPEAK

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Gal.5:1

"I believed, and therefore have I spoken." 2 Cor. 4:13

They are slaves who fear to speak
For the fallen and the weak;
They are slaves who will not choose
Hatred, scoffing, and abuse,
Rather than in silence shrink
From the truth they needs must think;
They are slaves who dare not be
In the right with two or three.   --J.R. Lowell


The real corrupters of society may be, not the corrupt, but those who have held back the righteous leaven, the salt that has lost its savor, the innocent who have not even the moral courage to show what they think of the effrontery of impurity---the serious, who yet timidly succumb before some loud-voiced scoffer,---the heart trembling all over with religious sensibilities that yet suffers itself through false shame to be beaten down into outward and practical acquiescence by some rude and worldly nature.  --J.H. Thom

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. --Romans 8:18

Believ'st thou in eternal things?
Thou knowest, in thy inmost heart,
Thou art not clay; thy soul hath wings,
And what thou seest is but part.
Make this thy med'cine for the smart
Of every day's distress; be dumb,
In each new loss thou truly art
Tasting the power of things that come.   - T.W. Parsons

Every contradiction of our will, every little ailment, every petty disappointment, will, if we take it patiently, become a blessing. So, walking on earth, we may be in heaven; the ill-tempers of others, the slights and rudenesses of the world, ill-health, the daily accidents with which God has mercifully strewed our paths, instead of ruffling or disturbing our peace, may cause His peace to be shed abroad in our hearts abundantly.  --- E. B. Pusey

Lord, help me to remember this! Your peace is ours if we will only take it!

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Ps. 24:9

Fling wide the portals of your heart,
Make it a temple set apart
From earthly use for Heaven's employ,
Adorned with prayer, and love, and joy.
So shall your Sovereign enter in,
And new and nobler life begin.
---G. Weissel


 Love these readings/poems or whatever they are called. I have an old book called "Daily Strength for Daily Needs" that I found at a garage sale many years ago and I have gotten so much comfort from its daily readings. The earliest copyright on it is from 1884 and the latest is 1928 by Mary Wilder Tileston. I have found that the Lord has a way of giving me help whenever I need it and this is a great and wonderful gift I was given!

Happy Birthday America!

Another 4th of July has come and gone and I wonder how America is really doing. All in all I guess only God really knows. It would really be depressing if I just wasn't convinced that there are so many good, decent, hard-working, patriotic people that still love this country; soldiers and citizens. No matter how bad the news is and how self-serving our leaders are, I have to believe in the strength and common sense of the good people who are my neighbors and fellow voters; hopefully the majority of mid-America. My gut tells me that there will be a surprise for the Washington crowd next election day no matter what the pundits tell us. The internet is full of new grassroot groups trying to rally around rescuing our country from the inept, selfish, greedy elitists running the show at this time. I just feel that there is a big change coming and I pray it will be a good one. 

Dirty & Clean

The past week or so has been filled with scandals and dirty politics and business as usual in Washington. It goes on and on until you just get so sick of it that you just want it all to go away. Bad behavior is rampant in both parties and at both federal and state levels. I'm not sure it is just from the abuse of power or part of the sick culture. All kind of sexual perversion is fed to us in movies, books and music. God help the children growing up in this culture and God help the parents to shield them.

And then we have two wholesome, beautiful, intelligent conservative women who are continually being trashed by the media as though they were the most crooked, hustling, no-good tramps that ever walked the earth. They are called the most degrading names and accused of having only selfish motives. Our local paper, The St. Cloud Times has never had a good word for Michele Bachmann and I haven't seen a weekend go by that they didn't have some negative article about her. Why they put up with this is a mystery to me, but I'm glad that they do! It is so refreshing to see such brave, strong conservative women setting such a good example for young women.

"Do It Anyway"

"Do It Anyway"

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and
sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

~~Mother Teresa

starrymom: ONE BIT OF ADVICE FOR SARAH & MICHELE

starrymom: ONE BIT OF ADVICE FOR SARAH & MICHELE: "I'm not sure if it is just a 'woman' thing, but the sound of a voice can be either attractive or repellent. There have been people who I jus..."

ONE BIT OF ADVICE FOR SARAH & MICHELE

I'm not sure if it is just a "woman" thing, but the sound of a voice can be either attractive or repellent. There have been people who I just can't listen to, even though I enjoy their messages, because of the sound of their voices. When someone calls who I haven't met there is only a split second or two that I can determine a fondness for or an irritation for wasting my time; and it all stems from a tone and sound of voice.

Sarah, unfortunately, has an uneven high and low tone and is hard to follow. It's not only the repetitiveness of some of her "folksy" phrases, it is just the sound of  her voice. I'm not sure how you can change it, but there must be voice coaches out there that could help her even out her speech. I think it would be a great help to her politically.

Michele has an easier "listening to" voice but sometimes just says some pretty far out things. She can get a little whiny, but for the most part really does quite well. She needs to stay away from the Washington-type speak such as talking a lot without saying anything.

They could both be helped by listening to Hilary Clinton. Even though I disagree with her politically, she has a good voice and tone of speech. For a woman politician she sounds authoritative and when she is done speaking I know what she has said and usually her intent. She, I think instinctively, knows how to speak effectively and was blessed with a "politician-type" voice, i.e. more manly. 

SPRING AND THINGS

May and June are probably my favorite months of the year. Even though it has been a rather wet and chilly spring, I still love it. The new buds on the trees, the thunder and lightening. 

My husband and I saw 4 orioles at the feeder all at once; and only the day after we had put the feeder up! The familiar sounds of bird songs seem to melt the ice from my veins. 

New life is just a glance away out the windows and the urge to clean and paint is to me like an ancient instinct. Maybe that is the thing that draws me, the feeling of waking up or coming back to life after the cold, dark winter. The feeling that we can come back to try again. That we have another season to enjoy the lakes, gardens and watching things grow. I also have the joy of watching a daughter grow with a child inside her this spring, so it is especially wondrous. The baby is due soon and will be a girl, finally, after many boys. Watching my daughter nesting is an experience I won't forget. Some women are just made to have babies! What will the baby look like? Will she take after her mother or her father? So much to hope for; to pray about; to thank God for! I really love spring!

JUSTICE OR REVENGE?

As an imperfect follower of Christ, I have struggled with the feelings of happiness in the death of Osama bin Laden even as I understand the great gift of life given to each of us. I have trouble killing insects sometimes and feel that my sensibility toward life is not in any way dull. My love of the Lord may need more growth, but I have trouble with those who constantly question others degree of "love for the Lord" when they may have differences of opinions. Only He can see our hearts and only He can or should be the judge of our level of spiritual condition. If we have trouble with someone's behavior or beliefs I guess the best thing to do is take it to prayer and just avoid those subjects with them. 

The bottom line, in my humble opinion, in regards to the death of Osama bin Laden is that his death is not so much "justice" (God takes care of that in the long run) but that with him gone I feel we have made a slight dent in the degree of safety for our country. Those that have loved ones who died on 9/11 must feel some relief. Even though there can be no guarantee that events like it cannot happen again, maybe, just maybe this will be a detriment  to those who are planning them. The killing of Osama bin Laden has also been a victory for those whose job it is to keep us safe and this being one of the few successes we have witnessed, I celebrate with them.

Also, what a strange time we live in that we have to apologize for feeling good when those who want to destroy us and our whole country are punished and or killed. It is truly amazing!

Federal Spending Grew More Than Ten Times Faster Than Median Income

Federal Spending Grew More Than Ten Times Faster Than Median Income

Another Snow Day!

     Not surprisingly, we have our late March snow storm and the kids are home and anyone that attempts to go to work feels heroic, as they should. We have to be reminded that winter would love to stay a little bit longer, if only it could, and doesn't want us to forget how wonderful it is.

     In some ways it is nice to have a day to catch up with cleaning, organizing and thinking and reading. A time to catch our breath and close our eyes. To thank the Lord for getting us through another cold winter with a warm home and wonderful family; to reflect on our many blessings and the day recognized as a surprise gift from God to regroup and relax.

     

     

Abortion - Silent No More Awareness Campaign - Regional Coordinators

Abortion - Silent No More Awareness Campaign - Regional Coordinators

Dogs and Kids

Funny how dogs and kids can be so alike. They both get jealous when you're playing with someone else. They both like treats, being touched, taking walks, being told that they are "so special" or "so cute", the best seat in the house, rides in the truck and playing with toys. They are always so quick to forgive and  forget and get back to game-playing. They don't ever try to hide their feelings or be someone they're not. Honesty is all they know. If you really want an honest answer, ask a child. Thank God for kids and dogs. Help us all to learn as much as possible from them

Healthcare, Gun Control, Prices Rising....

Whew...so much going on right now; and tax season is starting. The holidays are truly over and it's back to work time! I pray that our leaders have Godly wisdom and will make the right decisions for our country. I pray that we can get back to a strong economy because that is as important as a strong defense. I pray that Congress today can come up with common sense solutions and cut out the waste and corrupt programs and policies that are hurting us. I pray that the good of the people, the true and honest well-being of the citizens of the United States, is actually served today. You would think that would be something we could take for granted, but we know better. So I pray, as do so many. Lord, bless this country, for your Glory and the good of ALL!  --Amen
P.S. Protect us from all the liberal PC nonsense, gun control, environmentalist, socialist/communist, terrorist-loving, freedom-taking, West-haters.

Women Under Sharia Law, Part 1: Two Pakistani Women Blamed For Blasphemy and Beaten | NewsReal Blog

Women Under Sharia Law, Part 1: Two Pakistani Women Blamed For Blasphemy and Beaten | NewsReal Blog

Nice clean snow!

Today we had a small layer of fresh clean snow on the ground and the air was crisp and still. Just kind of nice day for a winter day with the sun shining bright and clear blue sky. 

We have a fairly new grocery store in St. Cloud and I'm finally finding out where things are there and what to expect. The prices are good; so good, in fact it is almost fun to shop there. It's nice to leave a grocery store without the "I got ripped off again" feeling for a change. 

January is just flying!!! Seems like the older you get the faster time flies. Good and bad; bitter sweet I guess. I want to be closer to heaven, but I'm just starting to learn how to live here! 

Well, I watched Glenn Beck today and he always gives me something to think about. He had two guys on who were saying how the U.S. is falling behind in everything and we are pretty much owned by China. The one guy was a billionaire and he now lives in Singapore. We don't produce anything here anymore and our children are not doing well educationally anymore. Not good news in any area. We use to be number one in just about everything. Not anymore and we need to wake up.

China buys more cars, oil and exports more than us. The only thing we have going is innovation and entrapenurship. The answer is EDUCATION for  our children and grandchildren and inspiration and/or innovation for everyone else. I pray that my grandchildren will receive the best education. The problem right now is that the public schools are substandard and are more  focused on teaching self-esteem and enviromental nonsense than acedemics. 

Maybe we need to find a way to start a business or system to teach children more effectively. I believe that we are all capable of anything if we want it bad enough, and that includes learning. As was stated by one of the men, hunger is the best motivator, and if we get hungry enough, and desparate enough, we can and will, I believe, find a way to survive and even conquer! 

Stirring up the hive....

Here is some "opinions" on the letter I wrote in the St. Cloud Times:


http://www.sctimes.com/article/20110112/OPINION/101120015/-1/RSSOPINION

News or gossip?

Hello world!  The weekend is over and it's back to Monday. It's overcast with a fine bit of snow falling. It is so small it is hard to tell if it is really snowing. Just enough to make the roads a little bit slick.

Any way....the news of Rep. Gifford is going ballistic now and I have to turn all the news off. We have her and all those affected in our prayers. I'm not sure what can be done about this, but of course the media is into the blame game full bore and missing the point. There are a lot of mentally disturbed people who need help and what the answer to that is, I'm not sure. Well, I'm sure it is NOT another government program or council, or committee or any of the useless, money wasting solutions Washington comes up with to make themselves "feel good" or feel important.  The answer also is NOT to censure free speech. Maybe the answer is to quit screaming and start listening.  Yup, I like that.  I will have to work on that myself!

Quran BBQ Burger.wmv

Slow Down & Dig In

Whew!! We survived the holidays! Again. I actually enjoyed them and without gaining weight. Now that is quite an accomplishment for me. Now it's out with the old and in with the new.


I love new things and new challenges. Sometimes I think I have too many things that interest me; reading and books, knitting, crocheting, glass and mosaics, politics, beading, woodworking, art, current events and on and on.  I look forward to learning more about all these things this upcoming year. Even if I am getting older, I don't feel old and I guess it is true that youth is wasted on the young. So much to learn, so little time! If we stop learning we stop living and I love living.

 Winter in Minnesota can be depressing but I am determined not to let that happen this year! There are ways to prevent it and I WILL find them, and do them. January is when we have to "dig in" and take it on....winter is here to stay, for at least another 2-3 months. Deal with it!

2010: Year of Stealth

Sadly, I think 2010 will be remembered as the year of stealth.


The 111th congress, the administration, the ruling class, the jihadists are all undermining our society. We the people, we don't need to know what is in a bill before it is passed in congress. We the people, we don't need to have our privacy protected. We the people, we don't need to own our own land. We the people, we don't need great schools that teach actual academic subjects. We the people don't need our products safe. We the people don't need to have our highways drivable. We don't need to know about doctors advising our parents on ending their lives. We don't need to know if our minor daughters want an abortion.We don't need to know that women are treated as property and only as 1/2 of a man in muslim countries. We don't need to know that the Qu'ran preaches to "kill the infidel" (anyone who is not a muslim). We don't need to know that stoning and chopping off of limbs is still done daily in Islamist countries. We don't need to know that the U.S. has a deficit of $7.5 trillion and counting. We the people don't need to drill for oil on our own land; we're too stupid to do it right. We are just plain too stupid to know how to do anything. Thank the Lord we have a wonderful ruling class of leftist, elitist Ivy league, power-grabbing, money-loving, holier-than-thou, nose-in-the-air Washington beltway people to show us the way!

Pajamas Media » 2010: The Year They Came for the Constitution

Pajamas Media » 2010: The Year They Came for the Constitution