Grand Falls

Suns reflection in pond at Grand Falls

Ozarks with moon in background.

Redbuds kick off spring.

The Redbud is out.

A view of the Ozarks outside of Alma, Arkansas

Yale, How far You Have Fallen

Didn't Bush go to Yale? The same holds true of many of the world's notables. Yale is an Ivy League school, and reputed one of the best. Ivy League, I said. In fact it is so high up in the ivy, it has totally lost touch with reality.

A copy of a Wall Street Journal Opinion on the role of women in Afghanistan and the admission of the Taliban student to Yale can be found by going to this link.

Yale's newest student is a member of the Taliban. You know the ones we are fighting in Afghanistan. Equal opportunity and intellectual indiscrimination has descended to new lows. Soon we will have proponents of the Klu Klux Klan and Neo-Nazis receiving our countries highest education. This somewhat reminds me of selling scrap to Japan just before Pearl Harbor so that the Japanese could shoot it back at us in the form of bullets.

And so it seemed that the mother of U.S. Seal who died in Afghanistan went to see the President of Yale about it. She was caught in traffic and was 15 minutes late so she was unable to see the President of Yale. It seems like the blood of a patriot does not buy much these days, especially in the Ivy League.

Yale has an endowment that is immense. Its professors are tenured and protected from the fickle vissitudes that plague normal men and women. They certainly have more protection than the young soldier that died in Afghanistan. So the Taliban goes to Yale and the mother of the dead soldier goes home wondering what her son died for.

Our country can do better than this.

Christianity and Islam-Some Differences

Christianity and Islam-Differences

There are many differences between Christianity and Islam. Some of the differences are as follows:

Jesus-Islam considers Jesus to be just one of a long-line of prophets. To Christians-Jesus is the very son of God. Jesus-is the “Lamb of God.” That means that Jesus is the method by which God reconciled the world to himself. Jesus was the sinless sacrifice, the Lamb of God, that was given in our place and who died that we might live. God accepted this sacrifice and reconciled the world to Himself evidencing this through the resurrection of Christ.

Mohammad-Islam considers Mohammad to be the Prophet of God. Mohammad is the culmination of the prophets and is the greatest prophet. To the Christian and Jew, Mohammad is not a true prophet.

God-Islam calls God “Allah.” Islam believes that there is but one God and He is called “Allah.” The predominant strains of Christianity are Trinitarians. Although we believe there is only one God, we believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Three in One.

Atonement- Christians believe that the sacrifice for our sins was the blood sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God. Jesus was like the Passover Lamb and His blood covered our sins and the demands of the law that we should die. Therefore Christians believe that we are saved by grace instead of by law.

Salvation-Islam believes that one is saved by acknowledging that There is One God and that Mohammad is His prophet. It believes that one is to abide by the teaching of the Quran and follow the instructions and laws of the Qur’an regarding life. Christanity believes that you saved by faith in Christ that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died to save us from our sins, and that He is resurrected and will reign eternally. Christianity emphasizes the grace of God, rather than the law that man could never satisfy.

Islam believes that Mohammad is the only Prophet and following the Islamic path is the only way. Christians believe that Jesus is the only door to salvation and there is no other way to be saved except by following Christ.

Incarnation-Christians believe that the nature of God was implanted into the womb of Mary and that Jesus, although truly man, was also truly God. Islam believes that Jesus was just a natural man.

Holy Book- To the Christian, the Holy Book is the Bible containing the Old Testament and the New Testament. After the New Testament, there were no divinely inspired books to be added to the Bible. The Bible contains what God needs us to know and the writers of the Books of the Bible were inspired by God. The Bible is to be followed.


To Islam, the Qur’an is inspired by God and contains the writing of Mohammad who was inspired. It is the culmination of Books, although there are traditions and ways of Mohammad called “Sunnah” along with supplemental books , writings and laws called Hadith. The Qur’an along with Sunnah and Hadith are to be followed.

Resurrection-God validated the actions and sacrifice of Jesus for the sins of mankind by resurrecting Jesus who died on a Roman cross. Jesus now lives eternally. His followers will live eternally with Him. Islam, acknowledges that Mohammed did die but they also question the resurrection of Christ.

The Return-Jesus in time will return to the earth to establish a period of peace. In Islam, the Shiite Branch believes that the 12th Imam will return to earth to establish a period of peace and prosperity.

The Sword and the Kingdom of God-Jesus was and is the King of Peace. When Peter took up the sword to defend Jesus and to fight for Him, Jesus told Peter to put down the sword. Conversion is not to be by the sword but through free choice. God’s kingdom is not of this world. In Islam, the sword is a legitimate method of propagating the faith. God’s kingdom is to be established in this world.

Separation of Church and State-There was a time that church and state in the West were not separated. “Christian” kings enforced the edicts of the church. Conversion to Islam was punished in the European Middle Ages. Today church and state are separated. If a Christian is converted to Islam, there may be spiritual penalties for not following the true way, but there are not penalties imposed by the state. Church and state are separate.

In much of the Islamic world, the institutions of church and state are not separate. Civil law is closely tied to religious law much as it was in Europe in the Middle Ages. Conversion by a member of Islam to Christianity is punished not only spiritually but actually in the present through state imposed penalties, including death.

In short, in most Christianized countries conversion from Christianity to Islam is permitted politically. In most Islamic states conversion from Islam to Christianity is prohibited upon penalty of death. (Turkey is one of the few Islamic countries that have separated church and state through the leadership of Ataturk.)


Although there are many more differences between Christianity and Islam, the ones set forth above are some of the key ones.

HarleyDad

A Fundamentalist View

Interestingly, the fundamentalist Christian may find some of the characteristics of conservative Islam not as foreign as many would think.

For instance, the fundamentalist Christian often tithes. Sunnis may give 2 ½ % to 10% as well. Shiites may give up to 20% .

Fundamentalist Christians believe in prayer. So do the adherents of Islam.

Fundamentalist Christians generally do not drink or use drugs. The same is true of the faithful of Islam.

Fundamentalist Christians oppose pornography, dancing, homosexuality and abortion. The same is true of adherents of Islam.

Fundamentalist Christians believe in a literal creation. So do the adherents of Islam.

Fundamentalist Christians believe in the literalness of the Bible and the fact that its admonitions are to be obeyed. Muslims believe the same regarding the Quran.

Fundamentalist Christians believe in life after death . So do the Muslims.

Fundamentalist Christians believe that some day there will be a millennium of peace on earth when the Promised One returns. So do the Shiites. (For Christians it is the return of Jesus Christ; for Shiites it is the return of the Mahdi).

Both Fundamentalist Christians and Muslims believe that martyrdom in furtherance of their respective faiths is good and is to be honored.

Both Fundamentalist Christians and Muslims believe that we live in a world that is corrupt, that Satan is active in the world, and that we are not to be snared into a materialistic way of thinking.

Both Fundamentalist Christians and Muslims believe in God.

In conclusion, although there are many, many differences between Islam and Christianity, there are some points of agreement on a practical basis.

I have traveled on business with many different kinds of people. As a Christian sometimes I have traveled easier with a devout Muslim than with a Western hedonist who is not Christian.

We search for points of commonality. As a Christian and a believer, it seems that I can understand “true believers” and the devout of other faiths and identify with them easier than with my fellowman who is more self-centered.

It is important to remember man is created in the Image of God, and that includes the Muslim.

The Islamic Person

It is important not to "demonize" the Islamic person. There are many different people and personalities in Islamic countries as there are in the U.S.

The early cradle of Christianity was in many of the countries currently controlled by Islam. The seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation are in Turkey. Great Christian thinkers came from Egypt and North Africa. All these countries are now under the sovereignty of Islam. The children of the seven churches are now residents of Islamic countries where Christianity is discouraged and discriminated against.

My point is that people are people. There are "good" people wherever you find them. Most people desire peace and want to raise their families where it is safe. Most want to make their living in peace.

I am reminded of a devout young Islamic man I met in Turkey as a Guide. I even was able to attend a Muslim service with him. His problems were typical. He was on his cell phone trying to make peace with his wife. He had some married friends over and had commented how his friends wife had not gained any weight since school. His wife took this as a statement that she had (and she was probably correct) and he was spending much time trying to achieve peace in his small family. In short this young proponent of Islam was a human being. He had concerns and issues much as you and I have.

Therefore in dealing with groups we tend to overgeneralize. In dealing with people in prisons we do the same thing. All people in prison are not the same. All military officers do not believe the same thing. The spectrum of personalities in the Baptist faith or the Catholic faith can be very wide with good or bad appearing anywhere in the spectrum. So it is in Islam.

Generalization is helpful in thinking; however it is less helpful in dealing with people. Often we are pleasantly surprized to find that our stereotypes do not work.

HarleyDad

Sunnis and Shiites-Part 5

The differences between Sunnis and Shiites might be compared to the differences between Baptist and Catholic.

Nonetheless, we need to keep in mind that both Sunnis and Shiites are in the same Islamic family. It is also a large family that consists of 1 billion people who do not particularly like outsiders.

Many of us grew up with brothers and sisters. We may have fought with our siblings like "cats and dogs"; however no matter how much we did not get along, we did not like others messing with our blood kin.

The Catholics and Baptists may have differences, in fact substantial differences, however, they may stand united when faced with Islam or any other belief that they consider to be non-Christian. The same is true of the Sunnis and Shiites. At least the Catholics and the Baptists are not fighting today and blowing each other up.

In short, the Sunnis and Shiites may not like each other; but they have more in common than either have with the Christian or Jew.

HarleyDad

Sunnis and Shiites-Part 4

Sunnis and Shiites-Simiarities

There are a number of similarities in beliefs. In short they are both Muslim. They are in agreement as to the following:

There is one God, Allah.

Muhammad is His prophet .

One is to believe in Allah and in his writings.

The Qur’an was written by Muhammad and leads to the right path in life.

The Qur’an is the word of Allah, reveals the will of God and is to be obeyed.

Both Shiites and Sunnis believe in the Five Pillars of Islam which are:

To testify that there is “No God but Allah and Muhammad is His prophet.

To perform regular prayers toward Mecca.

To give zakan. This is payment of a tax used to help the poor and needy and ranging from 2 ½% to 10%.

To fast in the Month of Ramadan

To make a pilgimmage to Mecca if you can financially afford it.

In short, there are a number of similarities between Sunnis and Shiites.

HarleyDad

Sunnis and Shiites-Part 3

Below is a table showing a number of countries and the percentages of the population that are Sunni and Shiite.


Name of Country Sunni Shiite

Iraq 32-37% 60-65%
Turkey 83-93%
Lebanon 23% 38%
Saudi 80-90% 10-11%
Yemen 70% 30%
UAR 81% 15%
Kuwait 60% 25%
Azerbaijan 29% 67%
Iran 10% 89%
Bahrain 30% 70%
Afghanistan 84% 15%
Pakistan 77% 20%

HarleyDad

"These goings on in Afghanistan, make me hopping mad", says Brother Goose.

It Ain't Over

The politicians are breathing a sigh of relief now that the Abdul Rahman has been given asylum in Italy. As you recall, Rahlman was the man from Afghanistan who was charged with being a Christian convert from Islam and threatened with the death penalty.

Time Magazine believes that he is probably just an abusive dad and a troublemaker. After all, he had no job. Wait until they try to apply for a job in Afghanistan and fill out that they are a Christian on their employment application. Surely, they would not be discriminated against just because they were Christian. At any rate, it seems to raise questions to the editors and writers at Time as to why Rhaman was not a more productive member of Afghan society. Apparently , we are encountering a typical media reality drift.

Bush, Rice and all the rest may now breath a sigh or relief. But the problem is not cured. There is no change in Afghanistan and no change in Islamic law. The only change is that a symptom went away. The symptom went to Italy.

But everything remains the same. Members of the Afghanistan government are still resentful that Rahman is not being persecuted (ahem, I mean prosecuted.) Instead of changing, they are simply more resentful than ever that we are imposing our Western values on them.

The Islamic law (sharia) still says that if you leave Islam, you are deserving of death. There is still no actual or practical freedom in Islamic countries.

The immediate problem has gone away. It will return another day. The cancer of the lack of religious freedom is as malignant as ever and still grows.

Shiites vs. Sunnis--Part 2

Shiites and Sunnis

A Who is Who

SUNNIS

Saddham favored the Sunni’s

In Iraq both Sunnis and Shiites are located in Bagdad

In Iraq, Sunnis are mainly in the North and Shiites are in the South.

Saudi Arabia is made up mostly of Sunni’s

The Taliban are Sunnis

Osama Ben Laden is a Sunni

Pakistan is Sunni (80% of its 150 million people are Sunni with 17% being Shiites)

Most Palestinians are Sunni

All Arab countries other than Iran and Bahrain are Sunni.

The Zarqari Group (al-Qaeda) is a fundamentalist Sunni Group. They do not regard Shiites as real Muslims. In addition moderate Sunnis that are not fundamentalist in their opinion are people who have given up the Islamic faith and also deserve to die.

SHIITES

The Shiites were persecuted by the Sunnis under Saddham

Iran is predominately Shiite. Remember Ayatollah Komeni (he was a Shiite ayatollah)

Lebanon has a large Shiite community. The Hezbollah Party in Lebanon is Shiite.

Bahrain has a large Shiite community.

Shiite vs. Sunni--Part 1

Shiites vs. Sunnis
Part 1

THE SPLIT

The differences between Shiites and Sunnis appear at first blush to be confusing. This attempt is an effort to distinguish the two for the non-expert.

The Shiites believe that the successor to Muhammad should have been his son-in-law Ali. The term Shi-at means the "Party of Ali." Ali was the son of Abu Talib and became the husband of Muhammad’s daughter Fatima.

The Shiites believe that Ali was the successor to Muhammad. However, Ali was opposed by Aishah, Muhammad’s intelligent third wife. Ali was also opposed by Muawi-ya . Aisha’s father was Abu Bakr who became the first Caliph. Ali was later assassinated.

The Sunni’s believe in the traditions and laws of the Caliph’s instead of Ali.

THE IMMANATE

Ali was the first Imam-meaning “leader.” Shiites followed the Imams and believe that the Imam was the leader of the Muslims (instead of the Caliphate) and the Imam had to be a direct descendent of Muhammed and Ali, the first Imam.

The Imam was sinless and infallible in connection with his pronouncements on dogma (sort of like the doctrine of papal infallibility.)

The twelfth Imam was Muhammad-al Munbazar (Sahit al-Zaman). It is believed that the 12th Imam did not die but was assumed. He will return at the end of the world to usher in a perfect Islamic Society (somewhat reminiscent of the Christian millennium.)

After the 12th Imam, divine insight was passed on to the ayatollahs who act as interpreters for the Shiite community.

DIFFERENCES IN LAW

One of the difference in Shiites and Sunnis relates to the Shiite law or sharia. Shiites treat the “hadith” of Muhammad and the Imams as being equal in importance. “Hadith” refers to the sayings and doings of Muhammad.

In addition Shiites have different interpretations of certain verses of the Koran (Quran).

Sunnis, however, do note believe that the traditions and sayings of the Imams have any religious value.

MARTYRDOM AND PERSECUTION

From the very beginning Shiites were persecuted. Ali was martyred. In addition Shiites celebrate during the Muslim month of Muram the festival of Ashura. This is a commemoration of the martyrdom of Hasayn (Hussein). Hussein was one of the Imams and was the grandson of Muhammad and Fatima. He was martyred by the Ummayad Dynasty (Sunnis).

Shiites have a strong sense of persecution and martyrdom.

Tom by the rock.

Tom by the water.

This is what a Thanksgiving Turkey Looks like.

I'll show you mine if you show me your feathers.

The famous two headed goose.

Two Headed Goose and Turkeys

Yesterday was a good day for photographs. The sun was out.

I took a couple of pictures of two geese standing so close together that they appear to be one goose with two heads.

Then I got some shots of the local turkeys. A few were in full feather. Although these shots are not particularly good, it was the first time I had seen turkeys displaying themselves. Hopefully someday I will get some better shots.

Last night had dinner with a wonderful couple. The man at one point was a well known criminal and drug dealer. He was converted in prison and now serves as a deacon in a local church. It is amazing what God can do. Amazing Grace-the words are so apt. All of us sin and do what we should not-but God loves us anyway and makes a way out of our human predicament.

Have a Great Day!

HarleyDad

HarleyDad

The Man Has a Name

The convert from Islam who is on trial in Afghanistan has a name. The latest report about what is going on can be found in the Reuters Release published by Yahoo News. His name is rarely used presumably because he is a non-person to the media.

It is interesting that the "post-Christian" countries of Germany and Italy along with Canada have taken the lead in asking for Rahman's release.

The U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice has now weighed in by making a phone call to the Afghan President, Hamid Karzai.

One possible solution that is being considered is to consider Rahman as being insane. Smacks of Russia in the Cold War declaring Christians as being mentally unfit and placing them in asylums for the mentally ill.

In short the enlightened Islamic response is to declare a convert to Christianity as being insane. As an insane person they are to be pitied and treated rather than killed.

Well a number of Christians are defending Afghanistan and Hamid Karzai and his government. They are doing their duty to God and country. So apparently Mr. Karzai is being defended by those considered to be worthy of death or who are insane.

Mr Rahman bounced around for a number of years looking for a country to live in before he was finally sent back to Afghanistan. I wonder if our government in the U.S. has thought about offering him political asylum. But I only hear a thunder of silence from Washington. I guess the problem is that Mr. Rahman is not an isolated example.

Hummm......

HarleyDad

Warrior Has a New Address

Warrior's new address is:

Stephen VonJett
Task Force Warrior
2-4 INF HHC S-2
APO AE 09355

Warrior is now on duty in Southern Afghanistan. All joking aside, he is on serious business. Continue to pray for him and our other troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We take comfort that God cares for us. Scripture says that He knows the number of hairs on our head. Now as we get older, that may prove to be an easier task. However, He also knows the sparrows and not one of them falls without Him knowing about it. And after all, we are worth more than many sparrows, aren't we?

HarleyDad

Kurds who become Christians

Apparently it does not much matter in which Islamic country you reside. Islam is not a tolerant religion. Here is a link about Kurds who become Christians. They become a menace to society. You can read the article by following this link.

Islamic Religious Freedom-An Oxymoron

Below is an article sent to me from a friend at my office:


Afghan man prosecuted for converting
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) —

An Afghan man who allegedly converted from Islam to Christianity is being prosecuted in a Kabul court and could be sentenced to death, a judge said Sunday.

The defendant, Abdul Rahman, was arrested last month after his family went to the police and accused him of becoming a Christian, Judge Ansarullah Mawlavezada told Associated Press in an interview. Such a conversion would violate the country's Islamic laws.
Rahman, who is believed to be 41, was charged with rejecting Islam when his trial started last week, the judge said.

During the hearing, the defendant allegedly confessed that he converted from Islam to Christianity 16 years ago when he was 25 and working as a medical aid worker for Afghan refugees in neighboring Pakistan, Mawlavezada said.
Afghanistan's constitution is based on Shariah law, which states that any Muslim who rejects their religion should be sentenced to death.

"We are not against any particular religion in the world. But in Afghanistan, this sort of thing is against the law," the judge said. "It is an attack on Islam. ... The prosecutor is asking for the death penalty."

The prosecutor, Abdul Wasi, said the case was the first of its kind in Afghanistan.
He said that he had offered to drop the charges if Rahman changed his religion back to Islam, but the defendant refused.

Mawlavezada said he would rule on the case within two months.
Afghanistan is a deeply conservative society, and 99% of its 28 million people are Muslim. The rest are mainly Hindus.

If in the U.S. Christians were to condemn a Christian who had converted to Islam to death we would be castigated as being bigots, narrow-minded and inquisitionists.

The media would criticize our action and the world would react in horror.

However the liberal media has a double standard. If the action is taken by Islam, then it is viewed as unfortunate but interpreted within their religious and cultural context.

This is outrageous by any standard.

HarleyDad has a Christian son fighting for both the U.S. and the Afghan government on Afghan soil. Yet I don't hear the Afghan government asking that our Christians troops not be there to fight. And so there is another double standard.

In short, all this evidences that in essence it is a religious war not a political or terrorist situation.

It is OK in the U.S. for Islam to convert Christians to their faith; however in these other Islamic countries the converse is not true--Christians can not convert members of Islam to Christianity.

The human and religious rights of the Islamic countries make the human rights position of China look benign by comparison.

My, it sure seems quiet out there. What happened to our courageous media?

HarleyDad

From up here I can see the whole world.

So much for those little cat feet prints.

And just who do you think you are?

I, Goose, hereby claim this car for the Goose Kingdom!

Dive Bombing my eye!

Ozarklandia Parking Hazards

HarleyDad used to work in the big city. The parking hazards were huge. You would park your car each day in a lot in the big city. At the end of the day you would try to remember what lot you had parked in. In addition sometimes you might park and you would go to find your car and all or a part of your car might be stolen.

The hazards of parking in Ozarlandia are more capable of being handled. Lately HD noticed that little cat feet prints were on the roof. However it must have been a whopping size cats. Also it looked as though the birds had dive bombed the car; but that is only par for the course in Ozarklandia.

However, Friday morning I looked out into the lot where I work and all questions were answered. See pictures above.

Mystery Solved!

H.D.

Behold the gift!

The gift in the presentation box

A closer look

The gift

A Lesson Learned

Well, HarleyDad lives in and loves Ozarklandia.

Last week one of the women of Ozarklandia brought to the office a gift for some friends of theirs. In as much as the gift was a most imaginative gift, HD asked to have a picture or two of the gift which are set forth above. It seems that the husband of the lady bringing the gift engages in Taxidermy.

The gift brought many a snicker from the ladies in the office. Some of the men were not amused.

There is certainly a lesson in the gift. "It ain't what you got but what you keep that is important."

H.D.

Warrior and the Taliban

Below is a link to a Yahoo News Story regarding the ferocious assault threatened by Mullah Mohammad Omar against the 18000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Evidently when Spring comes and the passes melt it is time for war again in Afghanistan. Please keep Warrior and the other U.S. troops in your prayers.

Warrior Note

If you send a package to Warrior, do not place rank on the package. Also do not send goods that spoil in less than 20 days due to the slowness of the mail. Gee I wonder if you can Fed-X to small towns in Afghanistan. Probably not. Evidently you must go through APO ("Army Post Office.")

HD

Warrior is in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

The Patch That Rules.

Warrior-Update

Stephen (a.k.a. "Warrior") has finally made it to Afghanistan. He is currently in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He says that it is interesting place and is somewhat like the Old West in that both good guys and bad guys walk around with their six guns stapped on and loaded. He also says that the Afghan territory reminds him of the West. Warrior always like the desert and thought it to have a stark beauty.

More info later. Information regarding Warrior's activities will always be delayed and place names may be changed to protect the "Good Guys."

Warrior's Father and Grandfather are somewhat envious of Warrior's Adventure. Warrior's Grandfather has counseled him to be careful but courageous.

Warrior's wife has done a great job in keeping all informed.

H.D.

Dick Bento of Hawaii Baptist Academy prent the Eagle to Mom and Dad for $100,000 giving over the years.

Mom and Dad. Dad is an officer in Glider Corp and Mom is Pregnant with a little HarleyDad