Evangelicals and a Golden Calf

A friend sent me a link to a blog post showing Christians praying at a statue of a golden [calf]. The irony is terribly sensational.

Now the idea of laying your hands on a person and praying for them is not foreign to the Bible. But laying your hands on a statue... a golden bull at that! There is a reason why the Second Commandment says: "Though shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt no bow down thyself to them, nor serve them..." (Exodus 20:4,5)

Grant it, they were not praying at the bull, but for the economy, but still, no matter how I look at that picture, I cannot help but shakes my head.

Joe the Plumber has no Privacy

Barack Obama and Joe the Plumber. Photo by Jae C. Hong, for the Associated Press.

Joseph Wurselbacher, better known as “Joe the Plumber”, has become an interesting mascot during the election race in the US. As an icon for the average middle class American, Joe the Plumber has been used by both Barack Obama and John McCain in their debates – especially the third debate on 15 October 2008.

Joe isn’t anybody unusual. He just happened to be someone who asked Obama a question [See YouTube-Video] about taxes, and then McCain took "Joe the Plumber" as a “face” for the typical American that would be affected by Obama’s suggested tax changes. [Here is more on Joe and the Obama-McCain debate.]

Now what interests me is not that the candidates are hijacking Joe the Plumber as a symbol for the middle class, but rather the sinister privacy breaches.

“State and local officials are investigating whether state and law-enforcement computer systems were used illegally to obtain personal information about "Joe the Plumber",” reports the Columbus Dispatch. The New York Times ads: “The illegal access case is just one of four similar incidents involving Wurzelbacher's information after the plumber shot into the news following McCain's repeated use of his name to highlight a point about Obama's tax plans.”

Here’s this guy; haphazardly his name is used by some politicians for their own agendas. And then suddenly, although quite innocent himself, he has “illegal” background checks done on him. Who is doing it? Of course both the McCain group and the Obama group are accusing each other. But that is not my issue; to me the real issue is that such privacy violations are happening all the time in America. It is just accidental that we actually heard about it in this case.

Indeed, Joe the Plumber is really an icon for the typical middle-class American; the typical American whose privacy is at stake.

One World Government?

Will there be a One World Government, as predicted by many paranoid prophets [aka conspiracy theorists] as myself?

Well the Eschatological Prophecies (fancy phrase for End-Time Prophecies) doesn’t say so exactly. The Book of Daniel, Chapter 2, says that the many kingdoms at the end of time will not “cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay” (verse 43). Similarly, Revelation talks of many kings, in other words many kingdoms (i.e. countries). The whole world will not change into one giant country ruled by a single individual (at least not initially). What Revelation does say is that “These [kings] have one mind...” (Reverlation 17:13). These kings have “one mind”, meaning they are one in purpose, they follow the same agenda.

One (physical) World Government, most unlikely. One World Order (i.e. many governments following the same agenda), quite possible.

Like father (Bush), like son (Obama)?

I was curious as to why George W. Bush would push certain policies to go through, knowing fully well that it is the end of his term in office and that he would personally not benefit from those Orwell-policies. Can it be true, as some suggest, that they (all those big time politicians) are part of the same cloak-and-daggers agenda?

Adam posted the followABC News article on his blog. The article has Sen. Joe Biden making statements about crises that America will face within the first year of Sen. Barak Obama’s presidency. The only way the draconian laws of the Bush Administration can be lifted is if it is done by the next administration, but if the next presidency is faced with “an international crisis, a generated crisis”, as Biden warns, there is no way the next president will abolish these laws. He will be using those laws and it will be “possibly unpopular, decisions”.

The American government has been pushing these freedom-fettering policies because they are preparing for something. Danger looms on the horizon.

Death of a President's Bodyguard

About a month ago the ruling political party in South Africa requested the then president, Mr Thabo Mbeki, to resign as president. He complied with hardly a complaint. Everyone was surprised at how smoothly the transition went from Mbeki to Mothlante.

What is not focussed on is that Mbeki's closest bodyguard was murdered three days before the ANC requested Mbeki to step down. The bodyguard, who had served Mbeki for 13 years, was shot dead in his bedroom. His wife was left unharmed and nothing was stolen. An assassination?

No wonder Mbeki immediately accepted the request to resign.

Below are two news reports(and the only two South African reports I could find). Why is the media so quiet about this?

Mbeki's Bodyguard Executed?
Mbeki Bodyguard Murder Unsolved

Google and Privacy

Quran 9:11

Two posts ago I complained about people using the Bible incorrectly. Following is an even worse case of supposed Quran-usage.

I just received an email stating that in Quran 9:11 it says: "For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced; for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah; and there was peace."

This verse is not in the Quran and definitely not conveniently in chapter 9 verse 11. The verse was made up by "The War on Terror"-enthusiasts. The idea is that America is the Eagle cleansing the Middle East (Iraq).

This is just another example of how people use and misuse (and in this case blatantly invent) passages from religious texts to legitimise their fraudulent agendas.

Don't be fooled by religious propaganda and wayward forwards.

The Grass is not Greener in Iceland

“When reading your blog, I’m wondering if it would not be better to move somewhere else,” writes a friend. He lives in South Africa. His motivation is in part also to protect his wife and children from the high crime rate in the country.

My suggestion to him was to consider Northern Europe: Very low crime rate; prosperous; high on freedom of speech and religion.

And then, this morning another friend sent me the link to a blogpost by someone in Iceland. And suddenly Northern Europe doesn’t seem like such a good suggestion anymore. The blogger writes: “It’s like we know the system is broken, we know it’s gone, but we can’t see it. We can’t tell what’s real, what’s still there, and what are just the ghosts of yesterday, when Iceland was one of the richest countries in the world. A pale reflection of the golden age in Icelandic economy which is now going up in flames. Where’s the smoke?”

I don’t know how to end off this post. What does one say before the brink of disaster? I cannot even say God have mercy, ‘cause that will insinuate that God is somehow to blame and that I don’t believe for a minute. We are to blame. We humans, and our greed and selfishness, are to blame.

Criticising the Bible

I don’t mind people criticizing the Bible. But when they do, let there be some research to it – not just statements thrown out there without looking up what the Bible really teaches.

Why my sudden disconcert? Well, I’m reading this book by Mihaly Csikszentmihaly called Finding Flow (1997) and on p. 59 is this statement: “The Bible’s suggestion that man was made to enjoy the bounty of creation without having to work for it does not seem to jibe with the facts. Without the goal and the challenges usually provided by a job, only a rare self-discipline can keep the mind focused enough to insure a meaningful life.”

The statement is flawed in at least two ways.

First, the Bible does not teach that man was created to be idle and merely enjoy the bounty without work.

“The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Genesis 2:15. Here is Adam, in the sinless, unfallen, perfect, bountiful, Garden of Eden. Does God tell him to sit back so that the angels can pluck fruit from the trees and feed him? No. God tells Adam to do gardening. He is to “work [the garden] and take care of it.”

Nor does the Bible teach idleness in Heaven. Talking about the New Heaven and New Earth, the Bible says: “They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.”

The idea that “man was made to enjoy the bounty of creation without having to work”, and Csikszentmihaly suggestion that the Bible is thus clearly false, is based upon his bad (or lack of reading) of the Bible.

Second, these periods in the Bible of bountiful abundance are both in times of sinlessness; when man will actually have the kind of self-discipline Csikszentmihaly speaks about.

Such (bad) scholarship on Csikszentmihaly's part suddenly makes me wonder how much of his book is based on assumptions rather than proper research.

Criticize if you must, but don’t do so on hearsay. You can get away with amateurism on the Internet, in blogs and so on, but in supposed well researched books?!

Read the texts. Read the contexts. And then enter the discourse.

Messiah Obama

Image from Williamette Week.

My aversion with America’s Republicans is the Religious Right movement. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure many of these people are sincerely thinking that they are doing the right thing, in promulgating Christian values in politics. Unfortunately, in their ignorance they are mixing an explosive concoction: politics and religion. The past has showed us time and again that throwing these two ingredients in the same pot will awaken a beast.

Surely the Democrats would not make this same mistake. Silly Prophet Kangnamgu. You’ve clearly not been watching closely. Not only are the Liberal Left mixing politics and religion, they are adding blasphemy to insult. Barack Obama is hailed as the Messiah. He is made to be not merely a political figure, but a spiritual figure heralding in a new era for America and the world.
He often uses religious rhetoric and his followers use religious jargon to praise his name. He is depicted as a source of light, in the style reminiscent of Great Leaders. (Isn’t that what they call Kim Jong Il too?).

“[Obama] won’t just heal our city-states and souls. He won’t just bring the Heavenly Kingdom — dreamt of in both Platonism and Christianity — to earth. He will heal the earth itself,” writes Micah Tillman, lecturer in philosophy at The Catholic University of America. Should we read her statement as academic jest, or take it seriously. She is an admitted Obama-supporter.

Unlike the Republicans that seem somewhat exclusivist Christian, the Democrats seem inclusivist towards all other religions. (This is a good thing if we want freedom of religion to prevail. However...) Obama clearly has a strong Christian following, and we all know of Obama’s reverent’s pulpit politics. But it is these other religious groups’ praising of Obama which is interesting. The Sify News reports prayers offered to Hanuman (the monkey-god) by Hindu priests for Obama. New Agers are embracing Obama as a Lightworker; i.e. someone who can raise the consciousness of other people and make the world spiritually a better place. (I know the New Age jargon – been there, done that, have New Ager friends, understand the paradigm, still do the diet and believe in telepathy.)

My concern is not with Obama the person, he seems to be a nice guy with the wits to boot (but let's not forget that he is a politician after all). My concern is with this obsession – this religious obsession with Obama. It is clear that religion and politics are mixing.

The Bible Prophecies foretell that America will become a religious-state. I just always thought it would happen under Republican rule.

When (is it still appropriate to talk of “if”?) Obama becomes the President of the United States look out for his interaction with other religious leaders. Especially, watch carefully his interaction with the Pope.

Isn't it exciting to see how the prophecies unfold?! How this puzzle will fit together is going to be a big surprise.

Democrats and Free Speech

I’m really enjoying Adam’s education of me regarding the Democrats. In a reply to a previous post of mine, Adam pointed out how the Democrats are actually working against Freedom of Speech, by trying to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine (sorry for linking to Wikipedia) policy. “Fairness is Censorship” is how the Washington Times describe the Fairness Doctrine and the Bussiness & Media Institute highlights how this policy could fetter Internet freedom and net neutrality. (Here is another interesting source about the problems with the Fairness Doctrine.)

I become more and more convinced that freedom in America is under serious assault, regardless of the political parties.

Thanks Adam.

Fascist America

Naomi Wolf’s book Fascist America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot was published in September 2007. The following article from the UK’s The Guardian is a synopsis of the book. Are Naomi Wolf’s observations truer, or less true, a year later?

Naomi states: “Because Americans like me were born in freedom, we have a hard time even considering that it is possible for us to become as unfree…”

I think part of the problem for many Americans is that they do not have a reference point to judge what is happening in America. In a sense, and this is my suspicion, people from outside of America is probably more aware of the radical changes happening than the US citizens themselves. Americans have had freedom for so long that they have forgotten what it took to get that freedom. Why did the Founding Fathers flee Europe in search of freedom in the New World? Why was the Bill of Rights created exactly as it was?

(Of course, in the end I am not an American and might just be wrong.)

Here are the 10 steps as set out by Wolf and which she claims the US government is guilty of. Read the full article at The Gaurdian.

Fascist America, in 10 easy steps
Tuesday April 24 2007, The Guardian


1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy

2. Create a gulag

3. Develop a thug caste

4. Set up an internal surveillance system

5. Harass citizens' groups

6. Engage in arbitrary detention and release

7. Target key individuals

8. Control the press

9. Dissent equals treason

10. Suspend the rule of law

Right now, only a handful of patriots are trying to hold back the tide of tyranny for the rest of us - staff at the Center for Constitutional Rights, who faced death threats for representing the detainees yet persisted all the way to the Supreme Court; activists at the American Civil Liberties Union; and prominent conservatives trying to roll back the corrosive new laws, under the banner of a new group called the American Freedom Agenda. This small, disparate collection of people needs everybody's help, including that of Europeans and others internationally who are willing to put pressure on the administration because they can see what a US unrestrained by real democracy at home can mean for the rest of the world.

We need to look at history and face the "what ifs". For if we keep going down this road, the "end of America" could come for each of us in a different way, at a different moment; each of us might have a different moment when we feel forced to look back and think: that is how it was before - and this is the way it is now.

"The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands ... is the definition of tyranny," wrote James Madison. We still have the choice to stop going down this road; we can stand our ground and fight for our nation, and take up the banner the founders asked us to carry.

Satirical Politics

There's nothing like the Onion News Network to put a cynical smile on your phase. They have the uncanny ability to use satire in a way that help you to look at politics in a new way. Agree or disagree, it doesn't matter. What matters is that satire forces you to reevaluate your views.

America, noticed more soldiers back home?

From one of my favourite blogs, I linked to this article, “Brigade Homeland Tours Start Oct 1” on the Army Times-website. It is not unusual for an active-army unit to be “at home” in times of crisis – such as when a natural disaster struck, e.g. Hurricane Katrina. But it is very unusual in any other circumstances.

Clearly the Bush Administration expected serious civil unrest with the recent economic collapse. There must definitely have been fear of civilian “terror” – surpassing the fear of the terror in Iraq. The news article says that this home-based active army “…may be called upon to help with civil unrest and crowd control or to deal with potentially horrific scenarios such as massive poisoning and chaos in response to a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or high-yield explosive, or CBRNE, attack.”

What is really scary is the announcement that this active army on home soil is going to be a permanent feature. After this initial 12 months of the 1st Brigade Combat Team’s active duty on home soil, it is expected that “another, as yet unnamed, active-duty brigade will take over and that the mission will be a permanent one.”

America is moving towards a dictatorship regime with unprecedented speed. Everything is in place. With Bush’s signing of the “John Warner National Defense Authorization Act”, the president can declare Martial Law at a whim – he merely has to announce that there is some civil unrest and viola!, we have Dictator Mr. President.

Bible prophecy is occurring before our very eyes. The lamb is starting to speak like the dragon.

Here are two YouTube-videos to get you thinking...

Internet Security

Even after many security updates to some of the chief browsers, we are still in harms way. This according to the following article.

It is disturbing how few people take their Internet Security seriously and even more disturbing when the internet security specialists tell us:

• "I wouldn't tell you not to use the internet, but I would certainly never tell you you're safe, which is a pretty horrible thing to say to someone"
• "I have very low confidence in any of the browsers' ability to keep me safe"
• "I really don't think people are in a good position from a technology perspective to defend themselves with what they're given by default in a browser."

And these are just the threats from crackers and miscreants. Where is the safety from our own governments and other countries' governments?

Paranoia: Savvis

Our computers are constantly bombarded with servers trying to access our systems, where they glean some of our data. I’m not sure what they are looking for; maybe the websites we visit? Most web users are oblivious to this fact because it all happens in the background.

In any case, this morning I was showered with access attempts by Savvis-Incorporated. I have PeerGuardian2 installed which blocks access from various servers to my computer. This morning PeerGuardian2 was without stopping denying requests from Savvis to my computer from 00:59:42 until I eventually gave permission at 14:14:46, just so that the assault could stop. My system was really slow and I was desperately searching for a solution.

Now why do Savvis request access to my system? Savvis is an international communication and data corporation. Are they trying to find dirt on people in order to extort them like their co-founder was recently found guilty off?

The interesting thing is that I’m blocked (somehow) from opening their website: http://www.savvis.net

I had to use a proxy browser to access their website under a fake IP.

In my own silly little retaliation here is some of their information. I suggest you use a program to block their IP-address from getting access to your system too.

Here is the IP-address of Savvis’ server: 216.34.181.97

And some more personal information:

OrgNOCHandle: NOC99-ARIN
OrgNOCName: SAVVIS Support Center
OrgNOCPhone: + 1-888-638-6771
OrgNOCEmail: ipnoc@savvis.net

OrgTechHandle: UIAA-ARIN
OrgTechName: US IP Address Administration
OrgTechPhone: +1-888-638-6771
OrgTechEmail: kelli.coburn@savvis.net

Of course, I’m paranoid, so don’t listen to a word I say.

An American Perspective

I requested an American blogger-friend to help me understand the financial crisis in America a little better. Below is part of his reply posted with permission:

This economic crisis is a disaster. Basically it all started in the 90's when some activist groups started lobbying the democrats to enact laws which would make it easier to obtain loans. They wanted this done because they were claiming that there was racism on the part of the lenders.... that a black man with the same or more qualifications as a white man was being turned down for a home loan. The examples they were using to back up their case actually turned out to be inaccurate and false, but, alas the legislation had already gone through and the politicians were not going to admit that they made a mistake so it stayed on the books. Then it turned into a 'one-up' game between the politicians and banks...one would say everybody should be able to get a loan who has a job...then the other guy would say, hey! we won't even check if you have a job and you can get a loan....then the other guy would say, hey! we won't even check if you're a US citizen. Both parties are guilty, but the bulk seems to land on the left.

My wife used to work for a firm that payed lobbiests to lobby some of these senators who are involved in this whole debacle, so we know how the system works. She has since left that position....good thing too because I'd really hate to be associated with these guys and this mess. Our politicians are not working for the people of the country; they are working for special interest groups who fund them.

This certainly helped me in contextualizing the current issue. Thank you!

[Continued] Christians Slaughtered in India

The following email was forwarded to me. Was it not for this email I would never have heard of the atrocities currently happening against religious freedom in India.

We have never seen anything like this. We knew that Orissa was the most resistant and hostile State in India as far as the Gospel is concerned. And we brushed off the continuous threats and harassment we faced as we went about His work. But none of our staff imagined that they would see this kind of carnage....And it seems to be totally under the radar of the Western Media ....Let me explain.... A militant Hindu priest and 4 of his attendants, who were zealously going around the villages of Orissa and 'reconverting' people back to Hinduism, were gunned down by unknown assailants in Central Orissa last weekend. Immediately the Christians were blamed. The cry rose up...'Kill the Christians!' And the horror began.... In the past 4 days, we have first hand witness to hundreds of churches being blown up or burned and many, many dozens of Christian tribes have been slaughtered. For no other reason than they bear the name of Christ.

Night and day I have been in touch with our Good News India Directors spread across 14 Dream Centers in Orissa... they are right in the middle of all this chaos. In Tihidi, just after the police came to offer protection, a group of 70 blood-thirsty militants came to kill our staff and destroy the home. They were not allowed to get in, but they did a lot of damage to our Dream Center by throwing rocks and bricks and smashing our gate, etc. They have promised to come back and 'finish the job.' Our kids and staff are locked inside and have stayed that way with doors and windows shut for the past 3 days. It has been a time of desperately calling on the Lord in prayer.

More police have come to offer protection. In Kalahandi, the police and some local sympathizers got to our dream center and gave our staff and kids about 3 minute s notice to vacate. No one had time to even grab a change of clothes or any personal belonging. As they fled, the blood thirsty mob came to kill everyone in the building. We would have had a mass funeral there, but for His grace. In Phulbani, the mob came looking for Christian homes and missions. The local Hindu people, our neighbors turned them away by saying that there were no Christians in this area. So they left.
We had favor. The same thing happened in Balasore.

All our dream centers are under lock down with the kids and staff huddled inside and police outside. The fanatics are circling outside waiting for a chance to kill. Others were not so fortunate. In a nearby Catholic orphanage, the mob allowed the kids to leave and locked up a Priest and a computer teacher in house and burned them to death. Many believers have been killed and hacked into pieces and left on the road.... even women and children. At another orphanage run by another organization, when this began, the Director and his wife jumped on their motorbike and simply fled, leaving all the children and staff behind. Every one of our GNI directors that I have spoken to said: 'We stay with our kids.... we live together or die together, but we will never abandon what God has called us to do.' More than 5000 Christian families have had their homes burned or destroyed. They have fled into the jungles and are living in great fear waiting for the authorities to bring about peace. But so far, no peace is foreseen. This will continue for another 10 days.... supposedly the 14 day mourning period for the slain Hindu priest. Many more Christians will die and their houses destroyed. Many more churches will be smashed down. The Federal government is trying to restore order and perhaps things will calm down. We ask for your prayers. Only the Hand of God can calm this storm. None of us know the meaning of persecution. But now our kids and staff know what that means. So many of our kids coming from Hindu backgrounds are confused and totally bewildered at what is happening around them. So many of their guardians have fled into the jungles and are unable to come and get them during these trying times.

Through all this, I am more determined than ever to continue with our goal: the transformation of a community by transforming its children. Orissa will be saved... that is our heart's cry. If we can take these thousands of throw-away children and help them to become disciples of Jesus, they will transform an entire region. It is a long term goal, but it is strategic thinking in terms of the Great Commission. What can you do? First, please uphold all this in fervent prayer. Second, pass this e-mail on to as many friends as you can. We must get the word out and increase our prayer base for this is spiritual warfare at its most basic meaning. We are literally fighting the devil in order to live for His Kingdom. The next 10 days are crucial. We pray for peace and calm to pervade across Orissa. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please pass it on and help us to get as many people to partner with us on this cutting edge effort to fulfill His mandate: Go and make disciples of all nations....Prayer works!

Blessings, Chip & Sandy Wanner Col 2:2 MBI
Team Facilitators to YWAM frontlines

In the end the persecution lasted longer than the expected fourteen days. In my previous post I complained about the media of the West not mentioning these events, but I think my criticism was overzealous. It would seem that India's own government was lax in responding to these reports. An example of the Indian government's nonchalant attitude is the case of the nun that was raped.

"More than one month after she filed a complaint, the Orissa government on Friday ordered a probe into a nun's allegation that she was raped and paraded naked in a village in Kandhamal district while a dozen policemen watched", reports one newspaper. It took them a month!

Christians Slaugtered in India

The last couple of days have seen carnage in Orissa, a state in India. Apparently it all started when a militant Hindu priest and four of his assistance were killed. The Hindu priest was known for his fierce proselytistic “reconversion” of people back to Hinduism. His murder was blamed on Christians and since then Hindus have been on a Christian killing spree in Orissa. It is said that it will continue for fourteen days – the mourning period for the priest’s death. Many Christian facilities such as churches, schools and clinics have been destroyed. Some were burned down with people inside. The killings are not denomination specific; both Catholics and Protestants face the same danger. According to a news report “…thousands of people have been rendered homeless, many churches attacked and at least 33 people killed in [Orissa].” There has been at least one case of a nun being raped. This in full view of police officers that just stood idly by -- they are most likely Hindus. How sad that people can only get police protection from violence, rape and murder if they share the religion of the police.

Probably the most distressing part about this whole thing is how uneventful it seems in the eyes of the media – especially the media of the West. It appears that a couple of religious murders somewhere in the obscurities of India is of little importance to the rest of the world.
Browsing the “World News” sections of some of the leading news agencies it is clear that news that doesn’t somehow affect the U.S. is not worth mentioning.

I find this troubling.