The plight of persecuted Christian’s worldwide, who still too often suffer martyrdom, seldom makes the headlines of the major news organizations. But the July 23, 2007 issue of Newsweek highlights the escalating flight of Christians from the Middle East as radical Islamists increasingly are issuing life-or-death ultimatums:

‘He refused to leave Baghdad, even after the day last year when masked Sunni gunmen forced him and eight co-workers to line up against a wall and said, “Say your prayers.” An Assyrian Christian, Rayid Albert closed his eyes and prayed to Jesus as the killers opened fire. He alone survived, shot seven times. But a month ago a note was left at his front door, warning, “You have three choices: change your religion, leave or pay the jeziya“—a tax on Christians levied by ancient Islamic rulers. It was signed “The Islamic Emirate of Iraq,” a Qaeda pseudonym.’

The ultimatums aren’t new even if they are news worthy today. The jihadists were practicing the same doctrines for hundreds of years prior to the Crusades. Our Jewish friend Debbie Schlussel, albeit with a very sharp tongue,  calls Islam the “Religion of Eradicating Christianity” while she is valiantly trying to educate the western world as to the dangers of the modern, militant variant of Islamic jihad. Thanks Debbie.

For more news about Christians who are suffering persecution and martyrdom see Christian Persecution Information.

My personal Bible study with commentary and devotional thoughts:

Bible verses: see Proverbs 17 KJV @ Battle Focused ; Proverbs 17 @ Bible Gateway

Pr 17:1 Our culture worships success and is willing to sacrifice anything and everyone to achieve it. We praise the ability to handle stress, 7-day work weeks, and late nights at the office… while pitying the families shattered by it and mourning those poor souls who die an early death because of it. Don’t make a living. Get a life!

17:2 We owe our employees more than a meager paycheck when they are productive. God’s word teaches that they deserve a generous share of the wealth they generate and an equal share of the status and the privilege enjoyed by the family of the employer.

17:3 The tribulations of verse 1 are self-made and should be avoided. However, that does not mean that our lives should be totally carefree without any stress. God uses the very worst days of our lives, whether cooked up by hell itself or in the kitchen of our own foolishness, to lead us towards the right path, to refine us, and to mold us into His image.

17:7 I wish we could all remember this at election time. It isn’t the eloquence of the speech, nor the smoothness of the presentation, but rather the character of the person that counts. It is also helpful to remember who God calls a “fool” rather than who the opposing political party mocks as one.

17:9 God sought Adam and Eve in the garden as they hid, naked and ashamed in their disobedience, and then He covered them. He sent His own Son to seek lost sheep and to not only cover us but to cleanse us from our sin. Oh, How He Loves US! And oh, how He treasures our love in return!

17:11;20 Revolution is sometimes a good thing. Thomas Jefferson said so! I am exceedingly grateful to his kind. But… often if not usually, so called revolutionaries are nothing more than rebels without a cause. The only thing they really value is the sound of their own voice. To tell everyone else how everything is wrong… until they get in power.

17:12 Any real wisdom found in these words of mine on this page, on this web site, or tumbling from my lips somewhere doesn’t come from me. I often feel that someone should be running down the street in front of me screaming “Robert’s coming!” as loudly as they would of a marauding bear. Ever feel the same?

17:14 How often do we go out of our way to have a knock-down, drag-out bloody fight? Not counting those of us who paid to do so, or who really enjoy a night in jail. Probably, not often if ever. On the other hand, how often do we bring up a small issue for discussion that we absolutely know is going to cause an argument? Don’t.

17:15;26 That said… “abomination” is an ugly word these days. Most people who don’t read the Bible think it is only used in sentences relating to homosexuality. Not! This verse deals with justice: it is equally wrong to condemn the just as to justify the wicked. How does that apply to the controversial issues of the day?

17:17 “A friend loves at all times…” How does this apply to loyalty when everyone wants their head delivered on a platter? When the friend is wrong/guilty? When they’re in political office? The preacher who got caught? The friend or family member who just came “out”? Or, your fundamentalist, evangelical Christian co-worker?

17:18 Do I ever do something when I know beforehand that doing so is going to get me into trouble? With the spouse, the boss, the government or the media? Do I then flash my credentials or otherwise flaunt my position to justify my wrongdoing? The Apostle Paul wrote that we shouldn’t exercise our liberty at the expense of others.

17:22 Have you taken your medicine today? Or, are you so dry that everything shrivels up and blows away when you walk by?

17:27-28 Now you tell me!!! I’m the quiet, shy type! It’s hard to get a word out of me. Honest! Oh, just stop it already.

Add your insights, answers, questions, etc in the comments. May God bless you today!

Massachusetts lawmakers denied the right for the voters of that state to decide whether or not to ban gay marriage by throwing out a proposed constitutional amendment to place the issue on the 2008 ballot.

So in the name of “equality” we are supposed to abandon the ideals of democracy. I believe this constitutes sufficient evidence that the political left only cares about “every vote counts” when it suits their moral agenda. If you don’t agree with their viewpoint… you can’t vote and you don’t count.

My personal Bible study with commentary and devotional thoughts:

Bible verses: see Proverbs 14 KJV @ Battle Focused ; Proverbs 14 @ Bible Gateway

The question is what do I write down. Notes on every verse? Boy that would be boring and dead. How about something that the Holy Spirt reveals to me? That might be awfully spare material to post for these first steps. So  don’t know; I hope He does!

Pr 14:1 We live in a culture bent on destruction. Even our churches are primed more to tear down, rather than to edify, a Bible word meaning “build up”.  To the point of this verse, women who are by nature nurturing, can be malevently destructive beyond measure. It may be a case of revenge for past wrongs by our forefathers, but most divorces today are initiated by women.

I feel that I should not develop these comments too far at the moment… the intent is His word in me, not merely my words written down.

14:9 Today’s culture says there is no sin, but it’s nothing new. The 60’s “if it feels good, do it” debauchery is expressed these days as “if that works for you, fine, I like hiking”. You may find comfort in a “god”, I find tranquility when I walk in the woods. No Creator. No God to be accountable to. No aboslutes, absolutely. You keep your idea of right and wrong, morality and “sin” to yourself. God calls such people “fools”.

14:14 The difference between a “self-made man”, and the man God blesses. The question is: “Where do I seek provision and reward?”. From God’s hands, or as a result of my own efforts? He blesses the work of my hands when they are guided by His ways and His will, and the result is “much fruit”.  But when I rebel or backslide, the consequences are my own responsibility.

14:21 Ouch!! I am tempted to despise some poor wretch of a human being almost everyday. Well, more honestlly, I’m guilty of despising my neighbor, not just being tempted to do so. Please, Father, forgive me. But we live in a day that many, many people live horribly wretched lives. I’m not talking about money, or clothing, or cars. More about character, and spirit. But Christ did not come to condemn the world, but to save it. He wept at the lost sheep of Jerusalem. What is my reaction to seeing people who live with the consequences of sin, and life without the presence of my Father God? “But by the grace of God, there go I”!! Yes, but then what? Act with mercy.

14:23 I sure hope so! Standing on the promises of God. Father, help me to do… not just dream and talk.

14:25 “true witness” — again one of the main purposes of this blog is to help me better know His word, so that I may be true to it when teaching others.

14:31 American culture honors success. Worships it. The poor are seen as failures. We think it’s their fault. Sometimes it is, often it isn’t. (cf verse 21 above) Human history is one of slavery. Today our “civilized” society looks agast at the mention of the word. But in practice, we are often more cruel than the worst slavemasters ever. Slaves may have been fed gruel to eat at the end of a day’s labor. Laborers earn a wage. If it buys enough food, fine…  if not, well that’s their problem. We’re so civilized, yea right.