Update: Mideast "Peace" Conference in Annapolis
October 8, 2007
"For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee."
(Isaiah 60:2)
* * * White House Celebrates Ramadan * * *
Hosts Iftaar Dinner on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007
1. "Bush White House Event Celebrates Islam"
CBN News
President Bush hosted a controversial event at the White House Thursday evening, with an invitation to Muslim officials and clerics to join him for prayer and dinner in observance of the Muslim month of Ramadan. Many Christians question the president's decision to make the Islamic celebration of "iftar" into a standard religious observance for the White House. Iftar officially breaks Muslims' daytime fast. Islam, referred to by some politicians as a religion of peace, is viewed by many conservative Americans as a faith rooted in violence and hostility toward non- Muslims, collectively referred to as "infidels".
2. Bush Shares His Thoughts on Islam
Interviewed with Al Arabiya reporter Elie Nakouzi on Friday, Oct. 5.
[Note: Al Arabiya is Al Jazeerah's top competitor in the Mideast.]
Reported by: WorldNetDaily
In Friday's interview with Al Arabiya, Bush emphasized his outreach to Muslims.
"We are having an Iftaar dinner tonight - I say, 'we' - it's my wife and I," Bush told Nakouzi. "This is the seventh one in the seven years I've been the president. It gives me a chance to say 'Ramadan Mubarak.' The reason I do this is I want people to understand about my country. In other words, I hope this message gets out of America. I want people to understand that one of the great freedoms in America is the right for people to worship any way they see fit. If you're a Muslim, an agnostic, a Christian, a Jew, a Hindu, you're equally American.
"And the value - the most valuable thing I think about America is that - particularly if you're a religious person - you can be free to worship, and it's your choice to make. It's not the state's choice, and you shouldn't be intimidated after you've made your choice. And that's a right that I jealously guard.
"Secondly, I want American citizens to see me hosting an Iftaar dinner."
"That's a strong message for the Americans," said Nakouzi.
· We see you, Mr. President; we see you . . . and we are in prayer. There are times when Kingdom government must prevail over politically correct civil government, and this is one of those times. The CBN report, quoted above, ended with this comment: "The Bible teaches that leaders who embraced, tolerated or celebrated foreign gods brought suffering and disaster upon their nation." As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are standing in the gap for you and for our nation, and we are asking our Lord to have mercy upon all of us. Amen.
· "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons." (I Corin. 10:21)
· "For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people." (Isa. 60:2)
Bush: All religions pray to "same God"
'That's what I believe. I believe Islam is a great religion that preaches peace'
President George Bush has repeated his belief all religions, "whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, prays to the same God" - an assertion that caused outrage among evangelical leaders when he said it in November 2003. Bush made the statement Friday in an interview with Al Arabiya reporter Elie Nakouzi. Al Arabiya is Al Jazeerah's top competitor in the Mideast. As the president and Nakouzi walked from the Oval Office to the Map Room in the White House residence, Nazouki asked, "But I want to tell you - and I hope this doesn't bother you at all - that in the Islamic world they think that President Bush is an enemy of Islam - that he wants to destroy their religion, what they believe in. Is that in any way true, Mr. President?"
"No, it's not," said Bush. "I've heard that, and it just shows [sic] to show a couple of things: One, that the radicals have done a good job of propagandizing. In other words, they've spread the word that this really isn't peaceful people versus radical people or terrorists, this is really about the America not liking Islam. "Well, first of all, I believe in an Almighty God, and I believe that all the world, whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, prays to the same God. That's what I believe. I believe that Islam is a great religion that preaches peace. And I believe people who murder the innocent to achieve political objectives aren't religious people, whether they be a Christian who does that - we had a person blow up our - blow up a federal building in Oklahoma City who professed to be a Christian, but that's not a Christian act to kill innocent people.
"And I just simply don't subscribe to the idea that murdering innocent men, women and children - particularly Muslim men, women and children in the Middle East - is an act of somebody who is a religious person. (WorldNetDaily)
· Kings need our prayers more than anyone else, which is why we exhorted to "first of all . . . [pray for them.]" Pray for President George W. Bush, that he would find and know the mind of Christ. True evangelism -- sharing the Good News -- is to begin with the fact that, without Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are doomed to spend an eternity outside of His presence. Once we can accept our own fallen condition, and that of others, then we are in a position to receive the Gift that was so freely given at the Cross.
· "You shall have no other gods before Me." (Exodus 20:3)
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." (1 Tim. 2:1 & 2)
President Bush's Ramadan Message 2007
I send greetings to Muslims observing Ramadan in America and around the world.
Ramadan, the holiest days of the Islamic faith, begins with the first light of dawn and commemorates the revelation of the Qur'an to the prophet Muhammad. During the days of fasting, prayer, and worship, Muslims reflect and remember their dependence on God. Ramadan is also an occasion for Muslims to strengthen family and community ties and share God's gifts with those in need.
America is a land of many faiths, and our society is enriched by our Muslim citizens. May the holy days of Ramadan remind us all to seek a culture of compassion and serve others in charity.
Laura and I send our best wishes. Ramadan Mubarak.
GEORGE W. BUSH
To view this message on the White House website, go to this link
To view the remarks that the president made at the Iftaar Dinner last week, go to this link.
110th CONGRESS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 5, 2007 RESOLUTION Whereas it is estimated that there are approximately 1,500,000,000 Muslims worldwide; (1) during this time of conflict, in order to demonstrate solidarity with and support for members of the community of Islam in the United States and throughout the world, the House of Representatives recognizes the Islamic faith as one of the great religions of the world; and · "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34) (Source: Library of Congress)
1st Session
H. RES. 635
Recognizing the commencement of Ramadan , the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commending Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas (for herself, Mr. MEEKS of New York, and Mr. ELLISON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
Recognizing the commencement of Ramadan , the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commending Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith.
Whereas since the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, threats and incidents of violence have been directed at law-abiding, patriotic Americans of African, Arab, and South Asian descent, particularly members of the Islamic faith;
Whereas, on September 14, 2001, the House of Representatives passed a concurrent resolution condemning bigotry and violence against Arab- Americans, American Muslims, and Americans from South Asia in the wake of the terrorist attacks;
Whereas Ramadan is the holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal for Muslims worldwide, and is the 9th month of the Muslim calendar year; and
Whereas the observance of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan commences at dusk on September 13, 2007, and continues for one lunar month: Now, therefore, be it resolved, that--
(2) in observance of and out of respect for the commencement of Ramadan , the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, the House of Representatives acknowledges the onset of Ramadan and expresses its deepest respect to Muslims in the United States and throughout the world on this significant occasion.
(Source: Library of Congress)
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20)
42 Congressmen Refuse to Agree to H.Res. 635
Political Correctness On Display In Washington As U.S. House Passes First-Ever Resolution Honoring Islam and Ramadan
An Important Message from Brigitte Gabriel
ACT for America
P.O. Box 6884
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
For the first time ever, the U.S. House of Representatives, on a 376 - 0 vote, passed a resolution honoring the Islamic holiday Ramadan and commending Muslims for their faith.
Congressman Tom Tancredo, one of 42 voting "present," in a press release after the vote cited the resolution as "an example of the degree to which political correctness has captured the political and media elite" in America. He further stated: "I am not opposed to commending any religion for their faith. The problem is that any attempt to do so for Jews or Christians is immediately condemned as 'breaching' the non-existent line between Church and State by the same elite."
Congressman Scott Garrett commented that in his five years in Congress he could not remember a resolution honoring Christmas or Easter. As of this morning, a search by the ACT for America staff had not uncovered any resolution in the past 20 years honoring a Jewish holiday.
Other Members of Congress expressed being "troubled" by the resolution. Yet it passed without a single "no" vote. Why? And why the special treatment of an Islamic holiday?
Because politically correct treatment of Islam is growing, and the pressures in Washington to knuckle under to this political correctness have become extremely intense. I heard this loud and clear from Members of Congress when I spoke on Capitol Hill on September 10th. We know there are Members up there who are deeply concerned, and deeply troubled, by the growing and glowing affirmation of Islam, given Islam's past and current history of violence, brutality, terrorism and intolerance. These congressmen and women need to know that there are millions of Americans who share their concerns. These congressmen and women need to know that there are millions of Americans who understand that Islam, especially militant Islam, has not been a religion of peace, and is, in fact, the major threat to peace and liberty in the world today. (American Congress for Truth)
· Offer praise for the 42 members who refused to endorse this resolution, and ask our Lord to cause their strength to increase as they fight this battle at the gates.
· "In that day, the Lord Almighty . . . will be a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, a source of strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate." (Isaiah 28:5a,6)
More than 100 Attend Ramadan Event at Pentagon Chad Groening A Pentagon advisor and national defense analyst is concerned that more than 100 Department of Defense (DOD) employees recently attended a Ramadan celebration at the Pentagon, in which two of the speakers had at least fringe connections to radical Islam. Maginnis says his second problem had to do with two of the guest speakers at the actual event. One was an imam accused of having radical Wahabbi material in his mosque near Dulles Airport; the other was the vice president of the Islamic Society of North America -- an un-indicted co-conspirator in the USA v. Holy Land Foundation case. "The coziness in which certain Defense Department officials are showing toward Islamic groups that are on the fringe of radicalism is contrary, I think, to our best national security interests and certainly suggests complicity in endorsing something that they may not be fully aware of," warns Maginnis. According to Maginnis, the DOD observance is only the tip of a giant iceberg. The following day, the U.S. House of Representatives passed overwhelmingly a resolution recognizing the beginning of the Islamic holiday of Ramadan and commending Muslims in the U.S. and around the world for their faith. · As this flood of politically correct activity continues to apparently infiltrate every branch of our government, pray that the authorities involved would be granted "wisdom from above" to DISCERN who is in their midst! May they each walk in the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. · "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Prov. 1:7) "Fast for America" Muslim Groups in the U.S. have joined with left-wing Protestants and Catholics in planning an "interfaith fast" on the upcoming "day officially known as 'Columbus Day,'" according to fast organizers. Called "From Conquest to Community, From Violence to Reverence: An Interfaith Fast to End the War in Iraq," the day of October 8, 2007 will conveniently synchronize with Islam's "Night of Power" during Ramadan. The interfaith fasters hope to "end the shattering of Iraqi and American lives by offering American generosity and support - but not control - for international and nongovernmental efforts to assist Iraqis in making peace and rebuilding their country, while swiftly and safely bringing home all American troops." · While we know that Moslems do not generally read the Bible, we wonder if these "Christian" participants read the Bible. God never advocated negotiations with the enemy, and He never said not to use military might to defeat the enemy. He did say He would go with us. God also never urges compromise, and this call for fasting is a strange mix of unholy alliances. Declare null and void any curses that arise from this fast. Pray for salvation of those involved in the fasting. Pray for your friends, relatives, and neighbors who may be involved, too. · "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14
OneNewsNow.com
October 5, 2007
Lt. Col. Bob Maginnis (USA-Ret.) says he got wind of the October 1 event when he received an invitation on his DOD computer. The former infantry officer says that was the first problem. "The person who sent it basically put the tenants of Islam [in the message] -- there are five -- and as far as I am concerned that's the same as sharing the gospel of Christ on a government email server, which of course is frowned upon and considered ethically unlawful by the federal government," says Maginnis.
The fasters include officials from the Islamic Society of North America, the National Council of Churches, the Council on American Islamic Relations, the Catholic Maryknollers, Sojourners, the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, and the Quaker Fellowship of Reconciliation, all calling for "all armed forces and militias to 'fast' from killing at least for one day, reminding them that Ramadan calls for a fast from violence as well." The exploitation of the fast will "educate people in our religious communities about electing a president and representatives who are committed to ending this war."
Calling upon a long religious tradition of abstaining from food for spiritual purposes, the interfaith fasters cited the Prophet Isaiah, Jesus, Gandhi and Cesar Chavez as potent fasters who "changed the course of history." Strangely, Muhammad is not specifically mentioned in the litany of admirable fasters. Perhaps his own record as a military conqueror makes his inclusion slightly inappropriate.
"Today we call for an end to this war, an end to our reliance on violence as the first, rather than the last resort, an end to the arrogant unilateralism of preemptive war," typically insisted a recent declaration from the 1.1 million member United Church of Christ. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) also recently pronounced that it is, "conscientiously opposing the war in Iraq as an action inconsistent with the teachings and example of Jesus Christ." (FrontPageMagazine.com)
MUSLIMS' RAMADAN NIGHT OF POWER
The Quran teaches that Jews and Christians are corrupted peoples not to be trusted. Because Islam is imperialistic and non-Muslims are a bulwark against its advance, Islam requires that they be converted, subjugated or eliminated. This is why Islam is such a powerful source of conflict and religious persecution.
The 'Night of Power' is when Muslims believe the gates of heaven are opened and Allah is especially merciful and attentive to their prayers. Traditionally it falls in the last 10 days of Ramadan but is most widely believed to be the night of the 27th day of Ramadan: Tuesday 9 October. Millions of Muslims around the world will stay awake through the Night of Power, seeking divine mercy. This year the "Night of Power" falls on Tuesday night through Wednesday morning in the United States.
· Ask the LORD to answer the prayers of all those Muslims earnestly seeking divine mercy and forgiveness of sins; may the one true God reveal himself - through dreams, visions, the Word and Christian witness - as their one and only Saviour. Pray that God would profoundly bless those ministries that are reaching and seeking to reach Muslims around the world; may resistance be overcome, obstacles removed and finances flood in, so that the gospel of truth, grace and mercy may indeed flood the earth, advancing the knowledge and glory of the Lord. (Habakkuk 2:14) (Religious Liberty Commission) [Reported by: Intercessors For America]
· "I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation not called by my name, I said "Here am I, here am I."' (Isaiah 65:1)
"Moslem" or "Muslim"
You may have noticed over the years that sometimes our alerts refer to the people groups that follow Islam as "Muslims," sometimes they are referred to as "Moslems."
Here's why:
First, our editorial policy is that, as we quote a mainstream source of news that mentions "Muslims," we do not change their spelling. However, if WE write a prayer point about these men and women, WE have the editorial license to call them "Moslems." Why is that, you may ask?
Well, we know from trusted sources that, in 1991, when the first Arab Gulf War broke out, it came to the attention of certain authorities in the Saudi Embassy's Department of Public Relations that our media was calling their people Moslems -- just as they had been called from the earliest days of their faith.
For reasons unknown to us, the Saudis became highly offended at this spelling of their faith, and soon thereafter circulated a press alert that was issued across the globe to every form of print and broadcast media (as well as textbook publishers): Henceforth, you may ONLY refer to our people as "Muslims."
In our own humble opinion, that spelling is actually a form of "bowing" to allah/Islam, which we refuse to do. So, because we have the freedom here of NOT being a member of the mainstream press, we shall continue to refer to these lost souls as Moslems; and we shall continue to cry out for their salvation -- each and every one.
· "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." " (Phil. 8:9-11) Israel: A Dangerous Game The Dangerous Game Of Dividing Jerusalem A confidant of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is now saying that Israel will turn over part of Jerusalem to the Palestinian Authority and allow the organization to make its capital somewhere in East Jerusalem. Vice Prime Minister Haim Ramon told Army Radio that in return, Israel would receive the recognition of the international community, including Arab states, of its sovereignty over Jewish neighborhoods and the existence of its capital in Jerusalem. Ramon said the Palestinians could establish the capital of a future state in the sector of the city, which Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 six day war. This is an Israeli proposal that essentially has the backing of the political parties on the Israeli side, according to Ramon. Under the proposal, Israel would not transfer sovereignty of the Holy City to the Palestinians, but some sources are saying that there are details in the proposal that would relinquish control of some of the most contentious sites- translated, the Temple Mount. Ramon said that the most important objective of the plan is to "preserve the state of Israel Jewish and democratic." One wonders if the political parties in Israel supporting this land for peace proposal are under such pressure from the United States that they feel their choices are limited. At the most recent U.S. State Department celebration of Ramadan, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Muslim attendees, "But in this longstanding conflict of Palestinians and Israelis, I want to say to you that perhaps the time has come. Palestinians have waited long enough for the dignity that will come with their own state. Israelis have waited long enough for the security that will come in sitting beside a democratic neighbor." The hope of these "democracy idealists" is that given a democratically elected Palestinian state beside Israel, there will be peace. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The democratically-elected terrorists, Hamas, have turned the West Bank into a terrorist stronghold that attacks Israeli citizens on a daily basis. Rice ended her remarks by alluding to a Muslim prophet in saying, "Tonight, as we celebrate our great diversity, let us remember that the lamps are different but the lights are the same." It is this kind of fool heartedness that will bring destruction upon the lives of many. Yes, Madam Secretary, the lamps are different, but so are the gods. Zechariah 12:3 says, "And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." The prophecies of Zechariah are in play and American politicians are playing a dangerous game. Bill Wilson Update: Annapolis Peace Conference More Details Now Emerging Re: Middle East Peace Conference in Annapolis, MD Just a short end-note to our readers: · Please continue in prayer over this conference. Perhaps our Lord would cause this event to be postponed, or even canceled altogether. This entire matter rests in His Hands.
Word of Life Ministry
www.dailyjot.com
First, Ha'aretz is reporting that this conference will begin on Monday, November 26.
Second, the list of invited guests is now available from this Middle Eastern source.
· "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." (Prov. 16:9)
