Computer Down Blues, Israel and Hamas

I've had to take my computer in for repairs. My drive kept getting repeating errors on it. I tried and tried to fix it and then determined it was beyond my ken to do so. So, it's in the capable hands of Mainstream Computers in Alma for the time being, and I'm using my son's computer to accomplish most of my computer tasks.

I want to vent my spleen about what's going on in the Middle East. For those who don't know, a six month "cease fire" between Hamas in the Gaza strip and Israel collapsed a few days back and Israel, after showing a LOT of patience and restraint, finally decided to do something about it. Hamas has the nasty habit of targeting Israeli civilians with rockets designed to kill them and destroy their homes, schools and temples. Many Israelis have been killed and injured by these bombs. During the ceasefire, Hamas lobbed over 100 of these rockets at them and still Israel would not budge from the ceasefire. What kind of restraint would we show if Canada started lobbing rockets at several of our cities in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan? How long would we suffer their onslaught while exercising all of our efforts at trying to make peace with them?

Here's a little something I wonder about...

Let's say you have a world view, a belief structure, and you rely on that to offer you some kind of "salvation" from the world's troubles and a promise of life after death. How would you go about choosing one? A lot of people just take a leap into the dark or simply hold fast to the faith in which they were raised. But say you're a smart one, and you want evidence to show the correct one. Would you not look at the lives of those espousing a given belief to see which shows the greater success in these areas of salvation? Let's look for a moment at Hinduism. Has their worship and world view resulted in riches for them? Are their efforts blessed with success? Any honest person has to say no, Hinduism has only brought poverty and backwardness to those who are its followers. What about Roman Catholicism. Yes, they do fare better, but do not progress much past the Latin American style of life. What about Islam, nothing but poverty, despair, raging wars, violence, hatred of every kind. It is a very scary religion. What about Protestant Christianity? From this world view has arisen the best of Western Civilization, the accomplishments, dominions and riches immeasurable. The United States was founded upon Biblical principles and by them, prospered greatly. Now we see those principles abandoned and our successes are inversely proportionate to our adherence to those principles.

So why do these Islamic extremists, Hamas, Hisballah, Al Quaida, and the Taliban not see what they are "gaining" by virtue of their beliefs. Why is it they don't see that God is blessing Israel in every way in their small strip of land next to the Mediterranean? All of the efforts which Islam has exerted against Christianity and Judaism have been totally wasted. Do they stop and take account of their "progress" and not repent of their mistaken ways?

I just watched a special on Fox, in which a young Islamic man, imprisoned in an Israeli jail for being caught up in terrorist activities, the son of a senior Hamas officer, was shown a simple Scripture in which Christ told us to "Love your enemies." In a moment, his heart recognized this Word from Christ as true. The "flavor" of this truth was completely different from the Koran. He gave himself wholly over to evangelical Biblical Christianity. Because of this, he now has a "Fatwa" hanging over his head and is seeking asylum in the U.S. Now the enemies he is told to love, want nothing more than to kill him.

What stark differences there are between our two civilizations.

We are told in the Scriptures that he who blesses Israel, will be blessed, and he who curses Israel will be cursed. Let's remember to pray for Israel in her battles, and pray blessings upon her in every way!