In Gaza, Is Love in the Land of Enmity Still Possible?

In counting their losses, Christians, Muslims, Jews discover common ground in grief.

 

Timothy C. Morgan

Since the outbreak of Israel’s military offensive against Hamas in late December, I have received — almost daily — fresh accounts from those close to the conflict.

In November, 2006, I met Labib Madanat, executive director of the Palestinian Bible Society, on my way into Gaza for a reporting trip to follow up on our 2005 coverage by Deann Alford, which we titled: Love in the Land of Enmity.

This week, as the fighting and dying continues, Labib shared some recent experiences with me, which he agreed could be released publicly:

January 2009:

Last year, and after the killing of Rami Ayyad, I had the chance to visit Gaza several times. The most memorable one of those visits was late February 2008 together with Brother Andrew. On that visit I stopped to pick a stone from a location where an Israeli soldier got killed in action 18 years ago; I did so according to a request from the soldier’s father, who later became a friend of mine. We also visited Rami’s widow Pauline Ayyad and her new born baby girl Sama; we encouraged her shared with her pain, joy, and grief.But also during that visit we met with a main Palestinian leader in Gaza, we expressed our condolences for the loss of his son who got killed as he clashed with Israeli soldiers three weeks before our visit. A Christian, a Jew, and a Muslim; in one visit we moved across the dividing lines sharing the love of our Father and his compassion for His tortured humanity in Israel/Palestine.

The last two weeks, and even now, we witness atrocities in Gaza; too painful and too ugly. In south Israel hundreds of thousands keep close to or inside their shelters for the fear of rockets from Gaza.

Sure there is no comparison between the loss of life and injuries in Gaza and inside Israel. Michael Sabbah; the retired Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem said “every person’s pain is human pain”. Whom to blame and how far back we should go? What is the baseline for deciding justice? As a Palestinian/Jordanian Arab Christian I should naturally blame Israel and hold them responsible for the killing of many children in Gaza.

But at the same time a Jewish friend can come and say the same against Hamas or other Palestinian or Arab governments or organizations and hold them responsible for the killing of many Jewish children.

To engage in the blame game is to perpetuate the effect of violence and evil; it adds fuel to the fire. This does not mean acquitting the guilty, it means we submit the file of all the guilty ones, and I am one of them, to the one who judges justly and whose gates of mercy are always open for those who seek it.

So what do we do? To say it is God’s business and run away? Absolutely not. He took the responsibility of justice and gave us the responsibility of compassion. “Love your enemy” in such days mean a lot and so does “love your neighbour as yourself”. In Luke 4, Jesus said to the assembly in Nazareth’s Synagogue ” What you have just heard me read has come true today” . We are the continuation of that fulfillment. So let it be so in action today.

Within the body of Christ, we are people who also belong to our nations. This belonging and citizenship should receive meaning and value and form from our belonging to our heavenly citizenship.

Two days ago I was struck by anger and pain, yesterday I met my brother and colleague Victor, who is a Messianic Jew, we debriefed shared our hearts and prayed. The body of Christ should be a safe territory to walk in the light, receive healing and practice forgiveness. It should not be betrayed to become an additional battle ground, as Jesus said ” My house is a house of prayer for all nations and you made it a den of thieves”.

I invite you all; living stones, the body of Christ, to be that safe place, and a fulfillment of God’s good news to our hurting human family.

May Palestinians and Israelis be saved

Filed under: my life updates!!

My song playing in the U.S and across many nations..

Read this mail from a friend missioner in middle east…. This is Gods breakthtrough I really thank God for such a great great opportunity ..its also in a chart room that is accessed by many people in the Middle east north Africa among many nations..i am exited Golry to Jesus!!!!!!!!!

 

Hi lawi,

A guy that owns a radio station came into the chatroom today. I gave him your two songs so he could play them on his radio station in the States.

I was going to ask if you could maybe come up with a neat 15 second theme song for the our podcasts. If you could that would be great, if not I understand as well…

God bless you

Filed under: my life updates!!

Ups and downs of life ;-)

 

Times have gone by and well well …ups and down of life u knw …I came back from Mombasa after one week of fun it was super cool!! Memories memories memories wacha tuu…nway am back to work and everything is fine though I must admit I had run dry spiritually …I haven’t attended serious prayer meeting ..i haven’t been reading my bible..my personal prayers had gone down and you know the consequences I have been in very very many troubles and compromised my stands but God s good the bible says those who are born of God shall overcome the world and that’s the faith..yep! God knows how to renew our strength …even youths may tire and faint but those who wait pon the LORD He shall renew their strength and they shall mount up like an eagle…AMEN!  So that’s basically me now God has renewed my strength spiritually I have this joy of the LORD trhat cant be bought Pastor Pete Odera used to tell us in prayr meetings that the ‘joy of the LORD is my strength ‘ those are King Davids words you know ..and that’s true you know ..the joy of the LORD has been my strength lately…well I shud not forget bout the trip to Mt. Longonot it was amazing though I was sick but God is good I was healed on the way

I received a call this Sunday from a colleague at work ati my song was playing in another station called U TV ..i thot that was really super cool man!!! I thank Jehovah receive honor and Glory …..i have met good people good people..i mean the world is full of good people I make new friends daily and I love it[at work and outside] …one thing I have come to lean is that actually most people are good !! if someone has an attitude and you understand them they become good its amazing ..i really am exited, people I thought were cold, I smiled and talked to them, people who might have wronged me, I just decide to do them good …people I had a negative attitude with , I change my attitude its MAGIC ……….well they might be faking it but its good its better that way.

Jesus said if someone does you a bad thing do them good ..its magic le me tell you …one time you will sit with them down and realize they had personal issues then or ..they thot ur a show off or a sadist or they just wanted to scare the hell outa you ..n-way the motto I have from today is to be good to everyone I meet…..AND AS STEVE PUTS IT IN OUR B.S UR THE ONLY BIBLE SOME PEOPLE WILL EVER READ!!!

I just realize how what you give is what you get, smile to the world and the world will smile back at you…Just as Jesus my LORD and savior sed that what u plant is what you get…….so from now on as I begin to seek God more I want him to teach me to love people more I think I have more love to give …coz I have been loved much by HIM also I have been given enough grace ad extraordinary forgiveness and cover by God and I shud be patient with people and cover them where I can ..Encouraging and doing what I can les when Jesus comes back [HE IS COMING SOON BY THE WAY] asks me what did you do Lawrence with happiness and grace and peace I gave you ..did you give it to people? well …..u sed it its one hell a challenge ..n-way the Grace of God  is sufficient …so far it has been Him not me so if I will be willing and work to seek him more and more he will Help me make a difference ………

Most people have been asking me about my full album and all that music thing and I must admit that am not prepared to do any major song thing for now …..maybe when I will be on annual leave …mid next year…. for now my boss deserves my full attention …………………..

 

 

 

Change Your Attitude, Change the World
by Mike Chalk

I used to tell one of my children, “You have an attitude problem.” Needless to say, such remarks only made the situation worse.

A bad attitude can create absolute misery. We may feel that our attitude is justified, but it still makes us miserable. How does a person respond to someone with a bad attitude?

The dictionary defines attitude as “a posture or manner of carrying oneself, indicative of a mood or condition, a state of mind or feeling.” How we present ourself to the world has a great deal to do with the state of our soul. And it can have enormous impact on the world around us.

One bad attitude can disable the atmosphere of an entire office. Discussion among employees often revolves around how to handle the disagreeable individual.

An attitude problem can grow from many causes, but I would guess it often stems from deep-seated anger. When I am honest with myself, my attitude problems begin with an interior dialogue that sounds a lot like grumbling.

And grumbling is frequently associated with frustration—often because we are trying to do too much in too short a time period. Frustration is the daily companion of any perfectionist. Nothing is ever good enough for a perfectionist. The rest of us just have a patience problem. Our impatience leads to frustration. Our frustration leads to anger. And anger gives root to bad attitudes.

Jesus addresses an attitude problem in the parable of the vineyard (Matt. 20:1-16). It’s a story that takes place in a work context where a group of employees think they aren’t being treated fairly. You know the story. The owner chooses people to work throughout the day to finish a job. When it comes time to pay each person, those who worked the last hour are paid the same as those who worked all day.

Those who worked all day are incensed at the apparent injustice, but the owner claims he has paid them what he promised. He asks, “Do you begrudge my generosity?” (Matt. 20:15).

In many respects these workers had lost their sense of perspective. The fact they were picked to work at all was an experience of pure grace. They certainly were not entitled to being picked over the others.

The owner chooses to be generous to a few. Those who have worked all day have a choice. They can either remain angry or be grateful for the owner’s generosity. Even those who worked only an hour will have enough money to feed their families that day.

Often we lose perspective in terms of the many gifts we have received, the most important gift being God’s generous love. Living in the grace of God can reduce frustration, perfectionism, and anger. It changes the way we present ourselves to the world … and our attitude toward life itself.

Filed under: my life updates!!

The super cool trip to coast!! lyfs sweet!!

its 2AM in a cool rooom near the coastal beach of Kilifi actually its few meters ..the beach i was swimming there till kedo 6pm… well it has been long since i posted stuff around i have missed alot i knw you wanna knw whats been cooking in my flowery blessed lyf …well for the girls am still single teheehehehehe girls say Amen !! he he

well lets just begin from my song it has been tremendous it has opened many doors to me i really cant tell its amazing and i give God thanks ,i have sold more copies and gave out free to others well i wish i had done an alburm coz my good friends and above all the workmates yaanni you guyz of better option rocks you have been such an encouranging and as we work together i pray i will be good im my realtionships with yah i love yah so so much so supportive and cool ..in Gheto FM radio reports that reach me is that my song has been requested alot and i might be going for exclusive interview if i Get time G Benno u have done me more work than anybody else and you are a star all those walks as we market my song all those n etworks bla bla all those advices , friends in Kenya bible group members , friends abroad in Christian writes, John and Claud of AFC thanks through your sites the song has reached many and you guyz in CW and AFC thanks for ur encoragemend i can mention names there many …now whom do you see??? please let it be Jesus its all for His Glory not me not at all

you can get it on you tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RTQXYctP8Y

spiritually i have faced battles i never thought i will face i have found my self in damn compromising situations like never before …almost being run by a car..threats from ..le me not say…sick severally and almost thought God forgote me but HEYYYYYYY am strong than before,i really thought it will be over, i was just very close yaaaani…i sent prayers to close friends and i share with them they prayed for me and i am just crazy for Christ thatks for facebook friends Hope Fm chart my siz and bro at workplace my bible study group memberz  YOU GUYZ ROCK! God has used you mightly so what can i say ma moving coz of you guyz

NOW MOMBASA TRIP

I am on anual leave and we happen to have a prayer breakfast in Coast Mombasa with friends of Hope FM chartterz it was amazing travelling for 8 hours and the prophetic meeting itwas awsome ..thanks Geofrey my workmate fot ccompnying me…wewe msee uache uoga ya ku-swim in deep waters but i admired the way u bonded with my friends ..its like you knew them ..i was amazed ..you have good interpersonal skills ..i hope your maneger reads this he he heeeeeeee..jokes aside …after the breakfast the other group of frinds like 20 travelled to Kilifi with coastal guyz and it was awsome we feasted on Kuku like nobodies business …yaaani you coastal guyz whad did tjhos poor chicken did to you to deserz such …nway …then next morning coz of work the beautyful girls and handsome dudes sold outr for JESUS had to leave and go back to Nairobi coz of work ..now the left guyz or remnants le me be prophetic had all the beaches and time for ourselves ..okay le me just be brief my neck is starting to ache and tomorrow i have to travell to south coast..likoni and swiswim swim …am crazy daring i feel like just geting lost in the Ocean …n-way le me be brief ..i have been spending my time with Kim and the coastal gyz kina Kabs in the Ocean  or having chilly drinks this place is so hot yaaaani..i take a showe more than 3 two times a day ..by the time u are drying your feet with towel u start sweating on armpits ..its that hot …also on sunday we visited a church and a prophetric message sent ..i happen to meet an OGA  a broda from Nigiria!! a good brodah Yami..stays with Kabugi ..thanks Bugi for everything God akubless..now back to my adventures we have also visited several hotels and i have several bronchures nikirudi Nai ntawapa ncheki rates…am postponing my stay evryday life is so amazing here sweet no stress i really thank God for His favor i dont take all this for granted and in the middle of it i have seen His mighty hand and favor …and am just i love with Christ more and more and i just pray i will focus more in Him ..i truelly now testify that God orders the steps of a good/Godly man…i hav seen it ..i really have ..i wish this were the days i had time for detail testimonies ha ha ha

so what else??? ohhh tomorrow i still need to go to south coast ..but i have still tones of invitations from friends and thats a good excuse for me to continue staying in Coast TILL AM BROKE!!!! and am left with only fare to Nai ha ha ha

now its 2:45 am some gospel rocks on the back ground and i just live this am fullfilled and thank God coz His words is tru that …delight in me and i will give you the descires of your heart ……i can say i have seen the goodness of the lord in the land of the living …….the small sweet stuff we take for granted….

well i will see yah around guyz and thanks for everything and those i have fogotten …i apreciate yah ..its ..2:57 am and sleepy and tired i will talk to yah laterz ….LOVE YAH!

Filed under: my life updates!!

i was on TV

Amazing stuff has happened lately ..am amazed ma song playing on TV ???? on Sunday am in maroom just preparing fopr Church the get a call from friends …we are watching yah on KTN am like “whoooooo!!!! Me ont me …..then the put the phone well I can hear it …its amazing its just God am amazed and hubled Glory to Jesus ……in Church the youth leader is like ‘.we say your song the Pastor is exited you will perform for us next week or next week but one “ oohh am amazed ….i go to waterbrook fellowship …”we saw your song ….we say you …how comes blab la …am just humbly saying God be glorified not me

But am so happy Glory to Jesus

Lets see what God has for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Filed under: my life updates!!

Gods favor

i am so humbled and ..really wanna decrease and Christ to increas in me i want him ..finish it

My video is fantastic i hadent planned to sell it coz it a single not albam but guyz love it its selling like hot cake i gloryfy God i dont write ma blog am busy like beeee h ha ha ha ..so when am not working for my boss am busy getting more copies they are never enough am really humbled and thankfull

the musician distributing ma songs said he has not seen anybosy he has worked with that has favor lyk me he confessed that from the time he started distributing MY song even HIS alburm that wasnt selling started getting orders ITS AMAZING isnt it??????? well i really really really thank God

i want to upload it so that i can share with all of us….GOD IS AMAZING GLORY TO ELSHEDAI i havent finished taking them to media stations hopefully this week

men i am so so humbled but io want me to decrease and Christ increase so that he can entrust me with the work as a desciple

I Love you Jehovah

Filed under: my life updates!!

A peak of ma life –Video shooting day

Where do I start ….well am very very very very thankfull first to God for the smooth running of the video shooting yesterday the weather was fantastic and the transport was awesome

I secondly thank Steve and Lizah for providing their premises for second song…… u guyz ROCK !!!!!!!! , I thank Mathaki and Martine wewe ni wetu ahsante sana  , I thank Mrefu the Camera man for going outa your way to travel all those places and even assist in paying the escort police in Ngong ….thanks Xell, Mkal [milly] G-Benno the artist for u stood in the freezing cold and fog in the mountains to see smooth running of the video …maze Joyce Lilian and Christine you girls am so touched by ur patient to wait for me all those hours its only Christ who can bless you , my bible study group for prayers and support najua mlikua committed vinoma thanks for your encouragement ..in one week time it will be nice …for all those who prayed and wanted to be there but we not able to make it ..i love you…

Na wewe Steve …you looked natural when acting that’s how the visitors said so we are forming a committee of inquiry to check weather all that time in our bible study meetings you have been acting all through the committee shall be headed by ……eerrr we will vote next sato

I will say what the Camera man said’ I wish I would be working with a team like this all times’

 

How did it go

I woke up in the morning selected my best clads did the make up collected ..listened to some worship by Paul Wilbur and pray for forgivesness of my sins I needed it devil was reminding me that I am not good in Gods eyes and I knew damn well I haven’t been such a great pal …so I had to read the devotion and I read a lot about Gods promise to Abram that his seed will have everlasting Kingdom that was 400 years before the Law was given, even before he was circumcised……so the success depended on Gods ability to fulfill his  promise but not Abrams ability to live to the standard of the Law ..now that was very very important for me that morning I dind wanna spil the word I prayed took a shower took my guitar and camera ..offf I went ..few minutes at the Wimpy coffee and sousage then at Kencom were the transoport was waiting at 9am ..we traveled and the first stop was at Rongai ..Mrefu comes from that area and he knw the places that are not private properties where we can do our job without someone saying “Nyinyi vijana munafanya nini kwa buroti[plot] yagu nitawapereka kotini”

After doing several shots we picked our instruments all the way to ngong hills where I did the rest of the song the place was so cold in the Mt.we had to pay the police dude aone ngwanye to escort us ..the thungs could have run awa with the expensive cameras …so after several shorts ..exchnaging clothes blab la bla and several joke with youths who wanted to dance in ma video ..we headed to Ngong town where we had …bad foood and was too expensive…..then we whent back to Nairobi it was now 3pm..there the girls Joyce ,Lili and Christine were waiting we strugglrd to get packing in town we dint wanna stop coz of the City KAJU police …we now headed to South C where Steve Lizah Muthoki and Martine where waiting we did quick arrangements the lights blab la and we where on for the shooting which lasted until kedo 6pm we had FUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN REAL FUUUUUUN

I WISH WE COULD DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN ….and Mkal and the friends you promised you will visit our B.S

After which now everybody packed and I was back to ma humble aboard reflecting on Gods faithfulness and I continued with the bible collection movies I was watching.. and a horror

Later in the night

Before falling asleep too tired ………………………..

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video shooting on Saturday Tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

well i have been too busy up and down getting stuff started for video shooting and talking with guyz from music industry to give some advices on how all goes. so i will be shooting it tomorrow hope all goes well the weather and stuff

am tooooooooooooo tired to write alot of stuff but my spirit is high i can feel God so real

the small parcel i sent to a friend is US reached safely am exited though it will get lost ha ha she thought its expensive but not ha ha…i will be checking mine sunday[suposed to have a rived by 28th ]i hear its a great book ..cant wait to open the pages

Filed under: my life updates!!

An awesome awesome,awesome time!

Things happened very fast ……testimony first my Uncle I have been praying for his problem of drinking [it was getting worse after divorce and he was about to commit suicide and loose his job ] but now goes to Church BUT seventh day Adventist for his former wife !!! its better though more prayer still needed , the second testimony my Atheist friend[ got worse after going for philosophical classes in Egerton University ] I had a time like 1 hour talking with him and giving testimonies of Gods doing in my life he was amazed.. lastly he said “ even a fool who denies God knows what he is denying “ glory to Christ

My family is doing fantastic they are all cool and I thank God ..grandma deep and passionate with God like never before …they are doing well

I have another testimony my family …even extended family is doing waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwww financially God has been so faithful to them all

I was given a chance to speak to them about investment they seem to have money but problem is using the money ….opposite of last two years were we were surviving by lending from banks and pple

Mmmhhhh I had a great time I went to Kikopey and enjoyed roasted goat and alvaro drinks and some cool music …and well I met  friends who made my day ….ha ha ha that’s story4another day including  young native  African Queen that made me almost forget everything and give up all for being with her……. King Solomon style ..he he am KIDING so piz no war ! guyz  

Well I dint pray much as I wanted …it was short prayer but DEEP well i engaged the spirit ….

Well my trip was awesome and I give God all the Glory and honor

I am planning to do video this week for those in Facebook u can see how my song have really been a blessing to many people even abroad  

The second song is still being mastered

I have missed prayerz for several weeks but hurray! Tomorrow and Tuesday am not that tight I will make time for the meeting

Love you guyz coz I feel loved and am really loved  so ma love overflows like river h ha ha ha ha you see you can only Give what you have and overflows …..

Filed under: my life updates!!

DINING IN HELL

Well people a time comes when a soldier is told ‘Spartans today we dine in Hell’ so is me I have been called on special assignment and will be dining in Hell for two days from Friday till Sunday so no appointments no calls I have turned everything down coz of that special assignment by His majesty Jehovah …now the devil has to fins a hiding place in Jesus name coz in the name and blood of Jesus am redeeming lives , dreams , visions and ministries that have been bound by the devils ..i cant wait to accompany Christ in this mission ….its a spiritual by the way not a physical thing and its through prayers for those who are wondering …WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!……….n-way I won’t say where ..and how but after I will explain if need be

Be blessed peoples

Remember Christ is coming so if your ways aren’t fine with Him please do so through repentance we aren’t perfect we keep trying not really trying but striving travailing ..amen that’s the word ..Travailing [sounds very spiritual]..by His grace we are being changed everyday

 

Read this

Historian Philip Schaff described the overwhelming influence which Jesus had on subsequent history and culture of the world. “This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science…he shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of schools, he spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line, he set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times.”

Filed under: my life updates!!

I reach Somalis /and whrrr else? Spain \chocolate

Days are going very very nice , I am arranging for transportation of some Somali tracks and bible to Island in North Africa where we have Somali people there …. am so exited they were given by our brother Adamhajj may God bless you bro

Meanwhile am planning to print the CD s of the two songs and distribute them to the Radio Stations around and will be taking to TV station when I do the videos probably next week but one ..if God wills

I had a good Sunday yesterday ha ha ..i have everything its only time I lack but will create time mmmhhhhh what else…..well ..nothing much you know Mondays aren’t that great …so not exited ….the bible study on sato was waaaahhhhwww we had a taste of chocolates from Spain from one member who was there  ..ha ha ha I couldn’t help it but share with the beautiful Muslims girls.. my neighbors, there is one who loves chocolate too much every time she sees me going to shop ….’Lorens uniletee switi ‘ she calls Chocolate sweet haha

Le me see how this week gonna be …………………………………..

Filed under: my life updates!!

WAR AND DESTRUCTION LOOMING- GOD PREVENT IT…please if its possible

I HATE RELIGION I HATE ALL RELIGIONS!!! THEY ONLT BRING DEATH AND STRIFE; CHRIST CAME NOT TO START A RELIGION CALLED CHRISTIANITY BUT TO START A RELATIONSHIP AND DEMOLISH THE RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES AND BELIEVES PRACTISED BY PHARESEES AND SEDUCEESS THAT’S WHY HE WAS ALWAYS MAD WITH THEM!!!111

 

Israel The Holy Land is in the middle of Crisis …no Israel Is the Reason for the Crisis a lot of Prophesies have been told concerning Israel and its like a sigh of times in it self ……the war between Palestine and Jews started thousand of years ago

Coming all the way to the time of David [Jew] Killing Goliath Philistines {Palestine] its an old stuff thing but very significant in knowing the times …immediately the Jews entered Canaan side it was already occupied by other guyz Philistines …or Canaanates ..you name them

Now this is where I have problem the women and the children are the one who suffer MORE

They not know what is going on…..we need to pray for the world more this time

 

Iran test-fires more missiles in Persian Gulf

By NASSER KARIMI, Associated Press Writer

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran test-fired more long-range missiles overnight in a second round of exercises meant to show that the country can defend itself against any attack by the U.S. or Israel, Iranian state television reported Thursday.

The weapons have “special capabilities” and included missiles launched from naval ships in the Persian Gulf, along with torpedoes and surface-to-surface missiles, the broadcast said. It did not elaborate.

A brief video clip showed two missiles being fired simultaneously in the darkness.

The report came hours after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Iran that Washington will not back down in the face of threats against Israel.

“We are sending a message to Iran that we will defend American interests and the interests of our allies,” Rice said Thursday in Georgia at the close of a three-day Eastern European trip.

Among the missiles Iran said it tested Wednesday was a new version of the Shahab-3, which officials have said has a range of 1,250 miles and is armed with a 1-ton conventional warhead.

That would put Israel, Turkey, the Arabian Peninsula, Afghanistan and Pakistan all within striking distance.

Wednesday’s missile tests were conducted at the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf through which up to 40 percent of the world’s oil passes. Iran has threatened to shut down traffic in the strait if attacked.

Another Iranian state channel, Press TV, quoted a senior Republican Guard commander Thursday as saying Iran would maintain security in the Strait of Hormuz and the larger Gulf.

Gen. Mohammad Hejazi, chief of the Guards’ joint staff, called the missile tests a “defensive measure against invasions,” according to the channel’s Web site.

Iran will not jeopardize the interests of neighboring countries, he said without elaborating.

Oil prices jumped on news of Wednesday’s tests, rising $1.44 to $137.48 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

 

Filed under: my life updates!!

Am blessed beyond any course ….watch this space!

My life has been sweetest of late [exept that I don’t have a time to rest even 4 hours..so sad no movies and ice cream$pizzas at steers and roasted meat in the marked] yesterday I saw my self enter int a new level of Gods favor …or I am in a great new avenue in my purpose full life …now i got to meet Israel Adamhajj the missioner and former Muslim Imam who now preaches the good news of Jesus and we spent the whole morning hours in his beautiful home and later in the nearby cyber discussing deep issues and making a blog …… he is a dear brother I like his passion for the Gospel to the unreached groups in Northestern Somalia and Coastal area it was an awesome experience

Meanwhile my song is doing really well , I have received numerous responses here and abroad ,  …Glory to Jehovah ..the video is coming very very soon

Later I went to Buruburu to meet my producer and I recorded the other song actually it was one verse I recorded that had remained …..i have learnt a lot about writing songs and I love it seems am nearing or walking in the borders of my destiny and dream …but all in all I wish Gods will to prevail and all to be well and that I may minister to somebody ..my main aim is not really to make money$fame [ though I love em] but touch even if its one girl…and even a boy ha ha am kidding ..n-way touch one life and give them hope and reason to believe in themselves ..thry can make it tooo…..we go through stuff  for reasons hahaha I sound too deep ….ha ha ha

Sad story is I have missed the Monday and Tuesday prayer meetings and feel I have let down the intersessors kidogo to but I know they are sweet to understand

For those who haven’t yet listened to my song you can do so in

http://Christianmissiontrips.org/download/wait.mp3

be blessed and I love you all

Filed under: my life updates!!

the going

wonderfull excellent couldnt be better the bible study yesterday was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwww we feasted but the real stuff started after wards tulikaaaaaaaaa mpaka 20minutes to 1am if am not wrong …and we realised we have a Ka-mighty prophet amongst Us and …seems like a church is realiy being built ha ha ha ha

you know what the ka-prophet is Gabriel ama Gabos ha ha

guyz be blessed i love you all am so filled with God yaaani it was great discussions am looking foeard to next bible study its becoming addictive ha ha ha ha

thanks mama kanisa na baba kanisa ..the food was great…i love foooooooood ..ha

 

going on with recording on tuesday and also on the same tuesday i will be helping a Missioner Start a site [the one with Muslim Background] its a honor to me i bless …also will be distributing my single to radio stations ..i will be doing video in two weeks timw i see…on saturday i go home upcountry

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A New Day for Apologetics

People young and old are flocking to hear — and be changed by — winsome arguments for the Christian faith.

Troy Anderson | ADVERTISEMENT

Despite all the recent attacks on faith—or, perhaps, because of them—these are definitely the best of times for Christian apologists such as Lee Strobel, William Lane Craig, Ben Witherington III, Darrell Bock, and J. P. Moreland. They are making documentaries, writing books, giving media interviews, attending debates and conferences, and presenting the public with what they say is a growing mountain of scientific and archaeological evidence documenting the truth of Christianity.

“There has been a resurgence in Christian apologetics as a direct result of the challenges Christianity has faced in the form of militant atheism in college classrooms, on the Internet, and in TV documentaries and best-selling books,” says Strobel, former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune and most recently the author of The Case for the Real Jesus: A Journalist Investigates Current Attacks on the Identity of Christ.

Dinesh D’Souza, who wrote What’s So Great About Christianity? (CT, March 2008), says the New Atheists are raising new types of questions requiring “21st-century apologetics.”

“The apologetics of the 1970s and ’80s are useful if you are teaching in a church camp, but it’s not that relevant to the claims the New Atheists are making, which are very different,” D’Souza says. “The New Atheists are really surfing the waves of 9/11, equating Islamic radicalism with Christianity. These are not questions addressed by C. S. Lewis or Josh McDowell.”

This spate of attacks has also kindled an unexpected surge of interest in apologetics among youth.

“It wasn’t too many years ago that scholars were writing off apologetics because we live in a postmodern world where young people are not supposed to be interested in things like the historical Jesus,” Strobel says. “The biggest shock is that among people who communicated to me that they had found faith in Christ through apologetics, the single biggest group was 16- to 24-year-olds.”

Last summer, hundreds had to be turned away from a Focus on the Family- sponsored apologetics conference for teenagers that drew an overflow crowd of 1,500. Meanwhile, the hotbeds of apologetics education—Biola University and its Talbot School of Theology (CT, June 2003), Southern Evangelical Seminary, and Liberty University—are crammed with students pursuing graduate degrees in philosophy and apologetics.

As this fascination with the evidence for Christianity has piqued the popular mind, Craig, D’Souza, and others are debating some of the principal atheist philosophers and liberal Bible scholars at universities and other forums in the U.S. , Canada , and Europe . These debates often draw thousands of college students. Young people are curious whether Christianity can be rationally defended. Last year more than 2,000 students packed Central Hall in London to hear Craig debate biologist Louis Wolpert on the topic, “Is God a Delusion?” The moderator was BBC commentator John Humphrys, whom Craig calls the “Mike Wallace of Great Britain .”

“He was stunned,” Craig says. “He said, ‘As I look out at this sea of young faces before me, whether or not you believe in God, something is going on here. I have never seen this kind of interest before in religious things in Britain .’ Everywhere we go the reaction has been that people want to hear both sides presented. And when [they are], they will come out in droves to hear a discussion of the existence of God or the evidence for Christianity.”

John Bloom, a physics professor at Biola, moderated what was billed as a “wild head-to-head debate” on Intelligent Design and Darwinism. Bloom says the recent challenges to Christianity coincide with celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the publication of Darwin ’s Origin of Species

Reclaiming Jesus

Then there are the attacks on the New Testament’s picture of Jesus as the Son of God. Witherington, a New Testament professor at Asbury Theological Seminary, says the claims made by the Jesus Seminar and others have set off alarms among orthodox Bible scholars. Darrell Bock is a research professor in New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary and author of Dethroning Jesus. Bock speaks at forums nationwide about the Gospel of Judas and the Gospel of Thomas, which are used to argue that the Christ of Christianity is contrived and the real Jesus is a less divine figure.

“A cottage industry has developed to debunk the Bible,” Bock says. “Their goal has been to take this more skeptical reading of the Bible out of the ivory tower and into the public square.”

Christian apologists are beginning to make headway in telling the other side of the story. D’Souza, a former policy analyst in the Reagan White House, has received international media exposure debating atheist pundit Christopher Hitchens, Skeptic magazine publisher Michael Shermer, and others.

And although Strobel and others are appealing primarily to the intellect, people are responding with their hearts. Strobel says the recent aggression against the faith has provided a great opportunity to present Christ to non-Christians. Strobel is convinced apologetics helps bring people to God. He notes that more than 700 made professions of faith during his last book and speaking tour. Many people have a spiritual sticking point—a tough question about the faith. And once they find an answer, Strobel says, it often turns out to be the last barrier between them and God.

One of those people was Evel Knievel, the motorcycle daredevil who died in November 2007. Earlier that spring, Knievel called Strobel after a friend gave him a copy of The Case for Christ. Knievel said the book was instrumental in his conversion from atheism to Christianity. Strobel, a motorcycle fanatic since childhood, and Knievel became friends, speaking weekly over the telephone.

“He just transformed in amazing ways,” Strobel says. “I know his last interview was with a macho men’s magazine, and he broke down crying, talking about his newfound relationship with Christ. He was so grateful. He knew he had lived a very immoral life and regretted that. He told me many times how he wished he could live his life over for God, and yet God reached down in his last days and dragged him into the kingdom. He was so overwhelmed by God’s grace. Here was this macho daredevil who became this humble, loving, and sincere follower of Jesus. It was an amazing thing to behold.”

Troy Anderson is a reporter for the Los Angeles Daily News.

Filed under: my life updates!! , http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/july/14.29.htm

Fact and Faith

Mark Mittelberg says this is no time to jettison logic.

Interview by Stan Guthrie |

Mark Mittelberg is the author of Becoming a Contagious Church and coauthor, alongside Bill Hybels, of Becoming a Contagious Christian. His latest work is Choosing Your Faith: In a World of Spiritual Options (Tyndale, 2008). CT’s Stan Guthrie spoke with him.

Many books have been written about Christian apologetics. What’s different about this one?

It seems that we live in a world with increasing numbers of spiritual choices before us: religions, cults, sects, and secular viewpoints, including the New Atheism. The average person is thinking, I don’t know what to think about all of this stuff. How do I figure out if any of it’s true? Maybe I just won’t believe any faith. Well, we all have faith in something. But have we thought about it? Have we carefully weighed our options? Have we considered what criteria to use to figure out what’s true?

The first half of this book is about how to weigh the criteria, and I show six faith paths that people tend to travel on as they figure out what to believe. And I help people think about which of those paths are more reliable, and which are less reliable, so that they know what criteria to value in their journey.

Is your book for the informed secular person, or also for followers of other religious traditions, such as Muslims and Hindus?

Both. I’m not saying there aren’t exceptions, but most people—Christian and non-Christian—believe because Mom and Dad told them it’s true or because it was part of their culture growing up. I challenge them to test their traditions and think about this vitally important area more carefully.

How do cultural currents such as immigration and increasing pluralism affect your approach?

They increase the sense of confusion about what to believe. We’re in such a widely diverse, pluralistic culture today that kids go to school surrounded by all kinds of viewpoints and beliefs. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but we Christians need to think more carefully and to teach our kids more accurately about why the Christian faith makes sense, why we believe it’s true, and why we don’t believe the others are true.

How does postmodern thinking affect faith?

It depends on how people view and live out postmodernism. When they interpret that to mean that truth is subjective and relative, this is the first of the six faith paths I discuss in the book, the relativistic or pragmatic approach to choosing your faith. Now I don’t think everyone who claims to be a postmodern would interpret that the same way. But for those who do interpret it in a really relativistic fashion, I argue that that’s a dangerous approach. As in speed limits, what you eat, how you exercise, and what answer you put down on a test at school—in all these areas we have to deal with the real world. It’s not my truth or your truth. It’s whether I gave the right answer on the test. It’s whether I was going the speed limit. It’s whether I stepped out in front of that truck coming down the road. Those are all realities that do not change based on my beliefs. What you believe does not change what’s real—in the physical world or the spiritual world.

But if by postmodernism we’re talking methodologically about how to communicate the Christian faith in our culture today, I would certainly support telling the story through music, drama, movies, and novels. We should never limit ourselves to one mode of communication. But if all we do is tell stories and give the narrative and convey our faith in that way, there will always be a number of people who will say, “Well, that’s your story and that’s nice for you, but I have my story, and I like mine better.” We’ve always got to be ready to also say, “I don’t want to just compare beauty of stories or intensity of emotion or the sense of love or inclusiveness within our group, all of which are important. There’s also this deal about truth and reality and how we know what we need to consider in order to make wise decisions about faith.”

I would urge my fellow believers to not let go of one of the most important things God has given us: logic, evidence, old-fashioned apologetics, which Jesus often appealed to when he was questioned. He would say, “Don’t just listen to my words, but look at my works, look at my miracles, look at the fact that I am fulfilling the roles of the Messiah in the prophecies. Look to the fact that I will rise from the dead.” And then to Thomas the doubter, he said, “Look at the holes in my hands and in my side. Look at me; it’s Jesus.” Over and over he pointed to the facts, the evidence, as did the apostles and other writers of Scripture. I’m not saying it’s the only approach; I’m just saying it’s an important approach that we need to use well, which is why I present this kind of evidence in the second half of Choosing Your Faith. Young people and folks both inside and outside the church are asking these questions and need good answers.

Filed under: my life updates!! , http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/july/15.26.htm

not feeling well

The going not that good am having a damn cold and very tired ….i dont have much to write guyz

i have tried to upload the song here with no sucees ….problem i dint do IT in school

but i have already sent to many of you mwenye hajapata anishow

Filed under: my life updates!!

Back to my good job

hey beautiful people all is well with me …ha ha thanks to God ..finished two songs but yet to shoot video time caught up with me men…ohh sorry men and women]…..forget it doesn’t sound ….jisty] ..so am back to work as you can see  and I love it …I will email you the songs in MP3 those in abroad ..those in Kenya ..i will give you the singles ……….and I need your prayers that the song will change nations ….be blessed ..my great great and helpful  producer told me ‘one of the song is very great’ what a joy ..thank God with me

the bible study was really really awesome I cant explain it ..we have a dinner on sato..hey members of bible study you are a treasure men [oohh and women both really ]

the prayer meeting and Sunday service at Waterbrook was rocking I cant just say how my life changed only God can understand ..it was my word and I did hold it and run run run ..you guyz you all Rock am so blessed to be in touch with Great Pple of God like you …I love you

cu ..will write more when I have time

 

 

 

 

Filed under: my life updates!!

still going on

The last couple of days has been the peak of my life a saw my self in the door to fulfil ma dreams sofar 2songs i have recorded are awsome …the third is tomorrow u shud have seen the joy in ma face whn ma producer said th songs have greatly improved and are ok…am planing to shoot th video of the best of th songs coz of shortage of funds…i am very very happy…i dint knw ths day will to someone else it may not b a big thng bt to s’one with no good voice has nevr bn in any choir to do vocals its a miracle.the bible study ön sat was awsome and deep many thnx givings for answered prayers thnx to Adonai…receive all honor n glory its all bout u.am in love with Christ He has been toooo good to be true..cu guyz i dont have tyme

Filed under: my life updates!!

nice and stario thats prophetic today!

wow were do i start my fingers are ..err..exited sort of or ..am freaking were do i start ..i really dont have time in the net..

well yesterday and today recordings …awsome …..thank God for that and leave it there ..there is another landmark……also attended weekly intercessory prayers

now a friend …missioner….conects..me to this other friend missioner …in Kenya ..he was raised in Islamic faith attended Madrassa went to went foe islamic teachings in Far East..for years returned as a Muslim Shaikh of preacher ..preached in Mosque for 5 years …but one day ..A LITTLE GIRL….sent by God preached to him he cried left Islam and has been reaching to them for now SEVEN YEARS…gave me testimonies of blind seeing and sick healed …i remember..it was him who came preaching to Gilgil were i came from in a great revcival crusade then the many muslim in the area heard about it and came with a sword to stab him …but moments before that God told him to hold the Holy Bible in his chest then ….when the guy stabbed him it landed on the bible..the guys were later arested……….he is writing a book…wow am exited to hear the testimonies its amazing its life giving ..i really dont know..n-way..God is good…i will be seeing more of him and even visit with him in an outreach ..but he is a very very busy fellow ..meetings …crusades teaching on isma outreach bla bla bla …went to …le me stop here i may be temted to post information i am not supposed..be blessed fellows

…recordings onnnnnnnnnnnnn

Filed under: my life updates!!