Showing posts with label Islam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Islam. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

A Timely Previous Post for the Christmas Holidays

Holy Week in America - What Happened to Spiritual Values?




It is Holy Week and Passover, a time of reverence in the world when people of all faiths should be focused on the values that helped shape America when the Founding Fathers were debating on the type of Republic America must be to help it overcome the factors that ultimately destroyed all major civilizations in the world, immorality and corruption.



From the first days of the American Revolution it became clear that this was to be the first Republic in world history to fully embrace individual freedom, with guarantees written into the Constitution, and the first Republic to embrace the following concept articulated in the Declaration of Independence.



"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."



Certain unalienable Rights endowed by their Creator. Historic and powerful, yet steeped in spirituality like no other previous form of government. Article 3 of the US Constitution Bill of Rights further clarified the role of spirituality in America with the following statement of religious freedom.



"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."



Beginning with the Founding Fathers the phrase "In God We Trust" was used as an unofficial motto of the USA until it was finally made a law in the 1950's, about the same time the Pledge of Allegiance was modified to include the words "under God" which reads "one nation under God". The linkage between God or the Creator and America is clear.



So while Holy Week is a time of revered religious observances it is also a time to rededicate ourselves to our principles and foundation. It matters not whether you are Christian, Islam or Jewish there is significance to this time. More than that, all three traces their roots to the Holy Land and Jerusalem.

Followers of Judaism hold Passover sacred as the time to honor the escape of the Jews from Egypt, when Moses led them to the Promised Land.

The Christian and Islam followers honor Jesus as the Messiah during this time as it represents the end of his earthly mission. To the Christians he performed the sacrament of the Eucharist at the Last Supper then died and was resurrected as a symbol of everlasting life in the Kingdom of God.



Though the Islam Holy Quran we discover the following:

Many do not know that the true spirit of charity which the Muslim displays, always, towards Jesus and his mother Mary spring from the fountainhead of his faith - the Holy Quran. He does not know that the Muslim does not take the holy name of Jesus, in his own language, without saying Eesa, alaihi assalam ("Jesus, peace be upon him")

We do not know that in the Holy Quran Jesus is mentioned twenty five times. For example:

"We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear signs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit" (The Holy Quran 2:87)

"O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary..." (3:45)

"...Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) an apostle of god..." (4:171)

"...And in their foot steps we sent Jesus the son of Mary..." (5:46)

"And Zakariya and John, and Jesus and Elias: all in the ranks of the righteous." (6:85)

Though Jesus is mentioned by name in twenty-five places in the Holy Quran, he is also addressed with respect as: Ibn Maryam, meaning "The son of Mary"; and as the Maseeh (in Hebrew it is the Messiah), which is translated as "Christ". He is also known as Abdullah, "The servant of Allah"; and as Rasul u Allah, the messenger of Allah.



He is spoken of as "The Word of God", as "The Spirit of God", as a "Sign of God", and numerous other epithets of honor spread over fifteen different chapters. The Holy Quran honors this mighty messenger of God, and the Muslims have not fallen short over the past fourteen hundred years in doing the same.

In eight verses from Holy Quran, verses 42 to 49 we are told:
(a) That Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virtuous woman, and honored above the women of all nations.
(b) That all that was being said was God's own Revelation to mankind.
(c) That Jesus was the "Word" of God.
(d) That he was the Christ that the Jews were waiting for.
(e) That God will empower this Jesus to perform miracles even in infancy.
(f) That Jesus was born miraculously, without any male intervention.
(g) That God will vouchsafe him Revelation.
(h) That he will give life to the dead by God's permission, and that he will heal those born blind and the lepers by God's permission, etc.



About the only difference between Christians and followers of Islam when it comes to Jesus and His mother Mary is He is considered the Son of God to Christians and the Mighty Messenger of God in the Holy Quran. Christians believe He died and was resurrected while in the Holy Quran He was taken by Allah. Is that really so different?



All three faiths agree that we must have faith in God (Allah). All three agree that we must follow the Ten Commandments. All three faiths have Holy Sripture that tell much of the same story.



If we honor all faiths in America then we must show respect for all faiths as a Constitutional responsibility. There can be no hatred, no condemnation of other faiths, no disrespect of the Holy Scriptures of all faiths and there must be a rededication by all people to the truths of these Holy teachings.



America is the great experiment. It was the first nation on Earth to guarantee religious freedom. In proclaiming these certain unalienable rights from the Creator we set ourselves apart from all other nations and civilizations and we must never forget it. If we are true to our Constitution and individual scripture there is no room for immorality and corruption in America.

Holy Week would seem to be the right time to remember our roots and to honor our responsibilities.

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Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Conversations with Melchizedek – “The Serpent’s head has been cut off” – ISIS Loses Caliphate

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Stranger than life coalitions join forces to destroy terrorist dreams for a caliphate.


Here is the 8th century caliphate that served as the model for the 21st century takeover.

  
Not even celebrated script writers for fiction could come up with the scenario that saw an end to the terrorist caliphate after just a couple of years.  Here is the timetable for the terrorist efforts to create and keep a caliphate.


ISIS Timetable





October 17, 2017 - ISIS loses control of its self-declared capital, the Syrian city of Raqqa. US-backed forces fighting in Raqqa say "major military operations" have ended, though there are still pockets of resistance in the city.


Forming the Caliphate

ISIS became the most feared terror group in the world when they defied all odds and took control of a wide swath of land in Iraq and Syria as the world super powers were caught sleeping at the switch.  After the collapse of intelligence and inability to react from both the USA and Russia, not to mention all the Arab nations in the Middle East, ISIS became a household name.


Ever since that fateful day, June 29, 2014, we witnessed one of the most brutal, morally corrupt reigns in modern history.  In no time millions and millions of people were killed or driven from their homes in Syria as a civil war and a terrorist war merged in the midst of the carnage already underway.



Suddenly both Obama and Putin looked foolish and weak.  In the midst of the chaos, the two most unlikely partners in war, Russia and the United States, each formed their own bizarre coalition to recapture the land from ISIS, who was rapidly spreading their brand of terror throughout the world.



A look at the two coalitions defied belief.


The Russian Coalition


In the Russian coalition was the hated President of Syria, the target of a civil war well underway.  Unfortunately, the many factors in Syria opposed to President Bashar Hafez al-Assad ( [baʃˈʃaːr ˈħaːfezˤ elˈʔasad], also commander-in-chief of the Syrian Armed Forces, General Secretary of the ruling Ba'ath Party, and Regional Secretary of the party's branch in Syria, failed to unite so there were many different rebel groups fighting the Assad forces. 


The Russian coalition also included the nation of Iran, with the tempestuous Mullahs and anti-American attitude ever since they overthrew the American backed Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi in 1979.


In other words, one side consisted of Russia, recklessly attempting to re-establish the Russian Empire or Soviet Union and former super-power and enemy of the USA.  They were joined by Syria, whose leader Assad President Obama demanded must be removed from office.  Finally, Iran, whose hatred of the USA by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and other religious leaders has extended nearly four decades.


Russia, Syria, and Iran.


The American Coalition

Obama pledged the American war machine including massive airborne firepower and an endless fleet of deadly drones while attempting to minimize American troop involvement.  The USA joined Kurdish rebels who were fighting the Egyptians at the time, allies of the USA, the rebels agreed to declare ISIS their enemy and join the USA coalition.  There was also the Iraq military with the lukewarm support of the Iraq leadership in the coalition.  Finally, there were Syrian rebels, one of the many groups, committed to overthrowing the President of Syria.   

USA, Kurd rebels, Iraq, Syrian rebels.
  

Somehow these two coalitions, filled with enemies of enemies of enemies of friends, managed to coordinate their efforts to wipe out ISIS while continuing their rivalries to wipe out each other.  Looked at from a different perspective, you have Trump, Putin, Assad, the Ayatollahs and Mullahs, Kurdish and Syrians rebels, joining to wipe out ISIS.


Melchizedek declares the serpent is dead.

Surprisingly, this was achieved October 17 and on October 18 Melchizedek said “the head of the serpent has been cut off.”


In way of explanation, he meant that without their headquarters, their capital city, their stolen money, and their caliphate, the terror movement cannot function as before.  All major resources of the terror group including bank accounts and cash were captured by the Americans and Russians.



Drones, American and Russian warplanes had blasted most of the terror framework to oblivion and sophisticated terror plans and attacks could no longer be mounted against the west.  This does not end terror, but means attacks by single person affiliates in foreign countries will be the pattern for some time to come.


From a spiritual perspective the pendulum is swinging back toward the light after years of embracing the dark.  The defeat of the rebels is a huge win after nearly two decades of fighting in the Middle East.  The nature of the coalition with so many opposing forces joining together shows the enemies can work together.  The time has come.

Syria aftermath – the Refugees

The Mercy Corp is one of the refugee support groups attempting to help overcome the worst refugee crisis in modern history.  Following is their latest report on the aftermath of the fall of ISIS.


The Syrian conflict has created the worst humanitarian crisis of our time. Half the country’s prewar population — more than 11 million people — have been killed or forced to flee their homes.

Families are struggling to survive inside Syria, or make a new home in neighboring countries. Others are risking their lives on the way to Europe, hoping to find acceptance and opportunity. And harsh winters and hot summers make life as a refugee even more difficult. At times, the effects of the conflict can seem overwhelming.

But one fact is simple: millions of Syrians need our help. According to the U.N., $4.6 billion was required to meet the urgent needs of the most vulnerable Syrians in 2017 — but less than half (only $1.7 billion) has been received.

Nearly eight years since it began, the war has killed more than 480,000 people. Crowded cities have been destroyed and horrific human rights violations are widespread. Basic necessities like food and medical care are sparse.

The U.N. estimates that 6.3 million people are internally displaced. When you also consider refugees, well over half of the country’s prewar population of 22 million is in need of urgent humanitarian assistance, whether they still remain in the country or have escaped across the borders.

QUICK FACTS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SYRIA CRISIS

The Syrian conflict has created the worst humanitarian crisis of our time. Half the country’s prewar population — more than 11 million people — have been killed or forced to flee their homes.
Families are struggling to survive inside Syria, or make a new home in neighboring countries. Others are risking their lives on the way to Europe, hoping to find acceptance and opportunity. And harsh winters and hot summers make life as a refugee even more difficult. At times, the effects of the conflict can seem overwhelming.

But one fact is simple: millions of Syrians need our help. According to the U.N., $4.6 billion was required to meet the urgent needs of the most vulnerable Syrians in 2017 — but less than half (only $1.7 billion) has been received.

When did the crisis start?
Anti-government demonstrations began in March of 2011, as part of the Arab Spring. But the peaceful protests quickly escalated after the government's violent crackdown, and armed opposition groups began fighting back.


By July, army defectors had loosely organized the Free Syrian Army and many civilian Syrians took up arms to join the opposition. Divisions between secular and religious fighters, and between ethnic groups, continue to complicate the politics of the conflict.

What is happening to Syrians caught in the war?
Nearly eight years since it began, the war has killed more than 480,000 people. Crowded cities have been destroyed and horrific human rights violations are widespread. Basic necessities like food and medical care are sparse.


The U.N. estimates that 6.3 million people are internally displaced. When you also consider refugees, well over half of the country’s pre-war population of 22 million is in need of urgent humanitarian assistance, whether they still remain in the country or have escaped across the borders.

The situation in Syria went from bad to worse when outside parties became involved in the conflict in the fall of 2015. As conflict intensifies, our teams on the ground have seen an increase in the number of civilian casualties and families forced to leave their homes in search of safety.

In December 2016, fighting in Aleppo City intensified and the warring parties came to an agreement to evacuate East Aleppo. People, including some of our own team members, were forced to flee their homes and the city they had lived in all their lives, leaving their belongings behind. We met those who made it out with critical supplies in areas of northern Syria. Now, even more Syrians have been displaced.

What is happening in Raqqa?
Raqqa is located in northern Syria, along the northeast bank of the Euphrates River. Prior to the war, it had a population of around 220,000, making it Syria’s sixth-largest city.
ISIS captured the city in 2013 and one year later declared it as its capital in Syria. Approximately 200,000 people fled in the battle for Raqqa and displacement camps are overflowing.
In October 2017, the city was retaken from ISIS, but the human crisis is far from over. The UN estimates that 80% of the city is now uninhabitable, water sources have been damaged by the conflict and there are no health services available in the city. Families are eager to get home or to find more permanent shelter. No one wants to spend this winter under a tent.

Where are they fleeing to?
More than 6.3 million people have fled their homes and remain displaced within Syria. They live in informal settlements, crowded in with extended family or sheltering in damaged or abandoned buildings. Some people survived the horrors of multiple displacements, besiegement, hunger and disease and fled to areas where they thought they would be safe, only to find themselves caught up in the crossfire once again. Across northern Syria, we are seeing that 20-60% of the population is made up of people who have had to flee their homes — many of them more than once.



Millions of Syrian refugees are living in Jordan and Lebanon, where Mercy Corps has been addressing their needs since 2012. In the region’s two smallest countries, weak infrastructure and limited resources are nearing a breaking point under the strain.
In August 2013, more Syrians escaped into northern Iraq at a newly-opened border crossing. Now they are trapped by that country's own internal conflict, and Iraq is struggling to meet the needs of Syrian refugees on top of more than 3 million internally displaced Iraqis — efforts that we are working to support.
More than 3 million Syrian refugees have fled across the border into Turkey, overwhelming urban host communities and creating new cultural tensions.


Many Syrians are also deciding they are better off starting over in Europe, attempting the dangerous trip across the Mediterranean Sea from Turkey to Greece. Not all of them make it across alive. Those who do make it still face steep challenges — resources are strained, services are minimal and much of the route into western Europe has been closed.

How are people escaping?
Thousands of Syrians flee their country every day. They often decide to finally escape after seeing their neighborhoods attacked or family members killed.

The risks on the journey to the border can be as high as staying: Families walk for miles through the night to avoid being shot at by snipers or being caught by warring parties who will kidnap young men to fight for their cause.




How many refugees are there?
According to the U.N., more than 11 million Syrians have been displaced from their homes — enough people to fill roughly 200 Yankee Stadiums. This includes about 5.2 million refugees who have been forced to seek safety in neighboring countries.

Every year of the conflict has seen an exponential growth in refugees. In July 2012, there were 100,000 refugees. One year later, there were 1.5 million. That tripled by the end of 2015.
There are now 5.2 million Syrians scattered throughout the region, making them the world's largest refugee population under the United Nations' mandate. It's the worst exodus since the Rwandan genocide 23 years ago.


Do all refugees live in camps?
The short answer: no. Only 1 in 11 Syrian refugees live in camps. The rest are struggling to settle in unfamiliar urban communities or have been forced into informal rural environments.

Jordan’s Zaatari, the first official refugee camp that opened in July 2012, gets the most news coverage because it is the destination for newly-arrived refugees. It is also the most concentrated settlement of refugees: Approximately 80,000 Syrians live in Zaatari, making it one of the country’s largest cities.

The formerly barren desert is crowded with acres of white tents, makeshift shops line a “main street” and sports fields and schools are available for children.

Azraq, a camp opened in April 2014, is carefully designed to provide a sense of community and security, with steel caravans instead of tents, a camp supermarket, and organized "streets" and "villages."
Because Jordan’s camps are run by the government and the U.N. — with many partner organizations like Mercy Corps coordinating services — they offer more structure and support. But many families feel trapped, crowded, and even farther from any sense of home, so they seek shelter in nearby towns.



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