What every Muslim wants

What average Joe American should know about Average Joe Muslim.

Doug, stay out of it. Don’t get involved. That’s what I’ve been telling myself these days. But...

I can’t help it.

   

I never really gave it much thought until now. But, we see it on the news and hear about it on the radio. ISIL this ISIS that. It’s something we can’t avoid—rather than pretend it doesn’t exist or hope and pray it goes away—I figured I ought to pull my head out of the sand and put my hands in the dirt.

So, I dug in, and in my humble opinion these are some things we ought to know.

Islam is moving into our lives whether we like it or not.

What’s Islam?

Islam is to Muslims what Christianity is to Christians. Islam is the name of the religion and those who follow it are called Muslim.

The word Islam means peace.

There are three types Muslims:

1. Secular – The majority of Muslims fall into this category. They are those who are not real dedicated, they don’t follow the faith real close—they don’t pray or study the Quran. Think nominal Christian. Someone who says they’re Christian but doesn’t give God much thought; doesn’t pray or read the Bible or go to church—nominal Christian. (Most so-called Christians?)  

2. Traditional – Those who go through the motions but are not committed to the literal interpretation. They don’t want to go to extremes such as trying to make converts.

3. Fundamentalist –These are the news makers. They do what they read in the Quran about taking over the world for Allah. They will kill for Allah.  A later post will address: Does the Quran teach violence.  But for now we will stick to what Average Joe needs to know.

What is the Quran?

This is to Muslims what the Bible is to Christians.  Muslims believe that every word of the Quran was dictated by Allah to Gabriel who then revealed it to Muhammad. (Gabriel is the archangel who appeared to Mary, Zacharias, and Daniel in the Bible. Allah is the Islamic name for God.)

Muslims believe the Bible was from God but over the years it had become corrupt so Allah (God) gave Muhammad the Quran to make things right.

Christianity verses Islam.

I was surprised to find out that much of Islam sprung from Biblical beliefs. Many Muslims believe their faith is an extension of the faith of Abraham.  

Islam is a religion of works. If good works out weigh the bad you are permitted to heaven. They pray five times a day, show hospitality, are against abortion and drinking and try to live similar to that which is outlined in the Ten Commandments.  They are afraid of hell.

Muslims want the answer to these three questions:

1)      If God is one how can He be three?

2)     How can God have a Son?

3)     Why would God let Jesus die on the cross?

Not acknowledging God as Father creates the schism in every Muslim’s heart. They declare repeatedly: “Allah is one and Muhammad is his prophet.”  

Sounds similar to what Jesus said. “The first of all the commandment is: ‘Hear O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.”  

How can you explain The Trinity? God is one and yet He is three?

I have to keep it simple for my little brain to get it. For me it’s a matter of the truth told in the very beginning. God created man in His image. Okay. I am created in God’s image. God is three in one. I must be too.

I break it down like this: I am a spirit. I have a soul. I live in a body. Three in one.

My spirit is the eternal part of me that knows and longs for God. My soul is the eternal part of me that expresses my unique character through my mind will and emotions. My body is the temporal part of me that walks this earth and is subject to death.

Likewise God is a spirit. His Soul is the Holy Spirit who expresses His unique character and His Body is Jesus Christ the part of Him in the flesh who walked this earth and suffered death.  

How can God have a Son?

Muslims struggle with this for at least a couple reasons: If God is one—how can He have a Son? A Son represents an extension or multiplication of Himself. Furthermore, having a child is associated with having intercourse. And they say God wouldn’t do such a thing.

Understanding God’s Son is the very essence of who He is. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)

Islam is a religion of works and leaves followers suffering from an orphan spirit because they do not see God as Father.

 The only way to the Father is through the Son. Jesus Christ will lead them to knowledge of The Father’s love. But, if they don’t believe in the Son, how can that be done? This leads us to the next question:

Why would God let Jesus die on the cross?   

Islam teaches that Jesus was a prophet. Not the Son of God. But a prophet of God—like Moses and Abraham and…best of all Mohammad. Therefore they claim that God would not allow one of His prophets to be killed on a cross. They hold that God put someone else there in His place—someone like Judas. 

Interesting concept is it not? God having someone else die on the cross in His place.

What can be done to dispute this claim? How can you convince someone that Jesus really died on the cross?

Ask God to show them. And He does.

Muslims take dreams and visions very seriously. Since 1984 a group of Christians have prayed every Friday (Muslim holy day) for Muslims to receive dreams and visions. Multiple reports of Muslims having dreams of Jesus on the cross have led to their coming to Christ. Statistics show that in the last twenty years more Muslims have turned to Christ than in the preceding 1,400 years since the birth of Islam.

What does every Muslim want?...To be love by The Father. Don’t you too?  

Christianity is not religion it’s relationship with Jesus Christ.

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)

Solution to IS is I AM

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That old Clock on the wall's not broke

The clock on the wall stopped at noon, or midnight.

Both hands are straight up.

I gave it new batteries and reset the time.

It ran fine until both hands were pointed toward heaven and once again it stopped.

I’ve reset the time…three times.

Each time it’d stop with hands held high.

Now, I just leave it alone—at least it’s right twice a day.

That old clock’s my favorite—it’s taught me a lot.

Twice a day, at midnight and at noon it reminds me to stand my ground and not back down. It
doesn’t waver it just stands steady, yet twice a day it’s right on time.

It tells me every noon with its hands held high to stop from the crazy busy hectic schedule we call life and  raise my hands high in thanks to the God who gives me life.

At midnight if it had a bell it would toll the loudest. With its hands raised in surrender, at that moment it rings a comfort and a warning.

For the worn and weary it sings of a coming Light.

For others living in the night it declares the day is fast approaching and it’s time to make things right.

Even though others say it’s broken and I should throw it to the curb.

I’ll just keep it hanging on the wall for all to observe.
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Romans 13:12-14New King James Version (NKJV)

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."

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Dad's Autumn Fish Fry

Dad leaned against the car as we gathered around him. He started to talk but his voice was weak and shaky and couldn’t be heard over the voices around him. I whistled loud and the garage where we stood filled with silence.

Dad started again. His voice was once loud and clear and strong, but now, I stepped closer to hear what he had to say.

“All summer I’ve been wanting to get you all together to have a fish fry—” he laughed but it sounded more like a cough—“but Doug never caught us a mess of fish.”

I had never found the time and he never found the strength, so our fishing never got done—and now the leafs are falling. The other day Dad and I went for a walk down the dusty driveway and a white van followed by a cloud of dust pulled in beside us. The driver told us what salesmen say; something about making a delivery at the neighbor’s and he had a few extra boxes to get rid of real cheap before his boss would let him go home. I knew he was fishing for a sale. We haggled over the price and Dad took the bait. We walked back up the driveway toward the house $150.00 lighter and a case of frozen fish heavier. “Now we can have our fish fry" Dad had whispered.

He cleared his throat and looked at each of us gathered around him. Our bellies were full of fish and fixin’s and the night was drawing to a close. He had planned out what he wanted to say but words don’t come easy these days. “I appreciate each and every one of you and…” his lip quivered a little and he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Someone mentioned that this may be the last time we’re together—all of us like this.”

Did he say that because it’s time to head south for the winter—or was he talking about his going Home?

He smiled a tired smile. “I’m not worried because I’m ready. I know where I’m going and what I intend to do.” He shuffled his feet and folded his arms over his chest. “You kids be careful, I don’t want any of you to get in a car accident or anything because I fully intend to do my best to be back here next year and hope you will too.”

He laughed again and we did too. It was hard to hear his shaky quiet voice but we heard his heart loud and clear. I’m thankful for you. I love you. I know where I’m going and I fully intend to do my best to see that you do too.

Dad, we love you too.
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Courtesy of photo bucket

The sword is coming…alas, it’s already here

I don’t usually watch much news. We only get two channels. But the last few weeks have been different. We spent some time with my dad, and news streamed from televisions in every room, every waking moment.

I was inundated by the information overload. And as soon as I got back to our quiet little camper I dumped words to the page before my brain blew up. You can read what I wrote here: Welcome to crazy.

If you read it, you may have thought what I’ve always been told: “Don’t talk politics or religion. Those things are personal—talking about it just stirs up trouble.” I get that.

But…what’s a person to do when they see politics and religion run together like cars of the same train—a runaway train filled with explosives headed toward the city? How could I keep silent? Perhaps being out of touch kept me from becoming desensitized, and then, the sudden emersion into the sights and sounds of the terror slashing our world today shocked me into action.

In the past few weeks I’ve read numerous articles, a few books and attended a seminar at our church with a man who has worked with the Islamic community for over thirty years. I won’t go into what I’ve learned—there’s much information available from others more qualified than myself. What I am compelled to tell you is that we’re in a war. Not some far away war, but one right here at home. If I don’t sound an alarm I’ll feel responsible for the train wreck—or at least the part that I could have prevented.

I was tempted to blow it off and just talk about fishing, or something funny the grandkids did. But then I remembered something I read in the Bible and it sorta got to me. It’s in Ezekiel chapter 33. It says something like this:

“When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people. Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die. They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives. But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths.” (TLB)

Another translation says when the watchman “sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head.” (NKJV)

I’m not saying I got a message from God like we get an e-mail or a text, I didn’t hear His voice or anything like that. I just know that our world has changed and I feel more than compelled to sound an alarm.

The sword is coming…alas, it’s already here

We don’t want to think about it. We just want to go on with our lives. And while we work and eat and sleep and play and raise our kids and pay our bills and figure out how to fit it all in the kids grow and we don’t see it because it’s such a gradual change little by little day by day and all of a sudden they’re grown and gone and we just hope everything turns out okay. In the same way the world changes and we don’t even see it happen but Freedom gasps and the sword cuts deep with every breath and all of a sudden our world isn’t okay.

I’m not a naysayer and don’t like listening to doomsday preachers but alas, dear friends we stand at a crossroads where there is a freedom and a peace, only to be found on the other side of war.

It will take war to restore freedom and peace within our nation. I do not know if, as a nation, we will win. But, as individuals, I know we can.

We are our own worst enemy in many regards and thus conquering ourselves is the first step. Didn’t President Lincoln say something like: “Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?”

Where are you when the lights go out? Before you fall asleep or when you wake up in the middle of the night—when all is quiet and it’s just you and your thoughts—are you at peace? Do you think about bills? The kids? The doctor’s report? Your relationship? All of the above?

The most important decision of all time is whether we will choose to follow Jesus or not. No adult gets to heaven by accident. It’s a conscious choice you make and then must live by it. Not so much rules and regs but will and passion. Like a marriage. After you get married you don’t see how close you can get to cheating without crossing the line. That’s the same thing as cheating if your hearts not in it—or if you’re just in it for the benefits.

When we the people get it right with our Creator, He will lead us to get it right with our neighbor. “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (Galatians 5:22-23)

When we get it right with our neighbor, it will spread to our neighborhood and then to our city and county and state and nation and world.

We the people must first repent.

God commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead. (Acts 17)


We have allowed our nation to corrupt itself from within to the point of no return. Unless we see an act of God in miraculous proportions we will surrender our world leader status and perhaps our very existence.

Do you want freedom to ring again in our nation?

We must unite as one nation under God and repent.

We must stay the course by:

Never bowing to the idle of appeasement

By not allowing history to be rewritten.

By holding fast to the spirit of our founding fathers.

Restoring common sense to the meaning of the constitution by removing agendas

Either what we hold to be right and good and true is right and good and true, for all mankind, under God, or we're just another robber tribe ~ King Arthur in First Knight
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Welcome to crazy

What if twenty years ago—no, ten—what if ten years ago, I told you…

• Christians would be told to convert to Islam or be killed—by beheading.

• Beheadings would be televised for the world to watch.

• All references to Christianity—such as crosses—would be removed from all military chapels around the world

• It would be against regulation for Chaplains to pray to Jesus

• American schools would punish children who expressed Christian beliefs

• Christian Bible and Prayer groups on government property would be deemed illegal

• Citizens would be brought to trial for showing favor toward Christianity

• Muslim religion would be favored, funded and promoted in America—any speech against it would be considered a chargeable offense.

• Basic Bible teachings would be considered ‘hate speech’

• Abortion would not only be legal but encouraged and funded by the American government

• Same sex marriage would be legalized and celebrated—in America

• Marijuana would be legalized—in America

And what if I said the most powerful dictator, man, office would be held by one who quoted from the Quran and called it Holy. He would be soft toward Islamic Terrorists—the ones who behead Christians in the name of Allah—by holding back the American military. He would ignore the constitution and order the government to take over health care and a majority of the commercial industry of the United States economy. He would remove all Bible references from Christian Holidays and declare America to no longer be a Christian nation.

And just to make it interesting what if I told you this world leader would have a name that rhymed in part with American enemy number one Osama, and was identical in part to American enemy number two, Hussein. What if I said his birthplace would be of questionable origin…and even still, he would be elected to office—twice?

If I’d told you all those things ten years ago—you’d have said I was crazy.

I’d have said I was crazy.


Welcome to crazy.


But wait…there’s more. Don’t be discouraged (yeah, right—I heard that). Seriously, there is hope. There is cause for joy. There is reason to smile. Why? Because, even though it seems like the world is on a downward out-of-control spiral—it’s not.

And the answer is not far from you.

“I AM the way the Truth and the Life, no man comes unto the Father but by Me.” Jesus Christ said that. He wants us to know, that even though… Yes Virginia, there is a satanic cause—He has already defeated it.

Jesus says to you and me, today, right now, I AM the way. I have overcome. You will have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I’ve got this. Hold fast to the Winner and you win.

He prayed for us while He walked this dirt in His earth suit of flesh-and-blood. He said: “And this is the way to have eternal life--to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one You sent to earth” (John 17:3).

The way may be hard. But it’s not complicated. He is not trying to hide—neither should HIS followers.

This little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel—NO.

I’m gonna let it shine…

Won’t let satan—poof it out

I’m gonna let it shine

Let it shine

Let it shine…


Christianity is not religion

It’s relationship. Jesus Christ is God’s credit to our debit. Jesus Christ is God’s divine door into our world to show us the way back into His.

Christians are being duped by this I don’t wanna offend anybody nonsense. Nowhere did Jesus ever say, ‘thou shalt not offend.’ He did however say, “I’ve not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34) Hmmm…sounds like something on the news these days. Swords brought to Christians necks.


Stop whining like whipped pups. I’m tired of hearing well meaning Christians say: “We just want to be treated equal like all the other religions.” Christians are not like all other religions. Christianity is a relationship out of obedience to the BOSS. The Creator of the world said, “Thou shalt love the LORD thy God.” Period. We don’t really have a choice. We don’t have any rights in the matter. Obey or disobey. The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof. It’s HIS planet.


Don’t take off His ring

What if I said to a married person: “Stop wearing your wedding ring because I don’t like your spouse. As a matter of fact I don’t believe your spouse exists…and it offends me that you’d wear such a ring.”

Would you obey me and stop wearing your ring? Or would you tell me to take a long walk on a short dock? Well, Christians are taking off their rings when they kowtow to those who claim to be offended by Christianity.

Make no mistake, the attack is not against Christianity as a religion—it is an attack against Jesus. And He takes it personal. “Why are you persecuting Me.” He says, (Acts 26:14).

Listen…can you see Him watching? Can you hear Him pleading? “Don’t take off My ring.”




What should we do?

There is a right and wrong, black and white, and good and evil. No matter what the world declares.

Restaurant owners, if you want to offer discounts at your cafe to those who pray, do it. Period. Don’t consider the outcome because considering consequences causes confusion.

When some atheist threatens to take you to trial? Do it more. Post their names by the cash register and offer discounts to anyone who will say a prayer for them. Rejoice that you are counted worthy to be persecuted for the cause of Christ. And no matter what, no matter how bad or scary it looks—don’t take off His ring.

Chaplains, if you want to pray to Jesus, then pray. Open the windows as Daniel did and pray loud pray strong and know that Jesus will shut the mouths of the lions. And come what may—don’t take off His ring.

Soldiers carry your Bible proud, say your prayers loud, know the Commander of the commander in chief is with you…and never ever take off His ring.

Students if you want to carry your Bible or wear your cross or let your friends know that you stand with Jesus then don’t be ashamed, don’t be afraid, you are not alone, God is on your side and no matter how much they ridicule don’t ever, not ever take off His ring.

Preachers cry loud spare not and do not compromise His Word. When they slander you for hate speech, when they threaten to shut you down don’t waver, stand strong and know your God is mighty to save and whatever you do—don’t even think about taking off His ring.


Get it right in heaven.

Get it right with God by praying right now. Don’t wait. Pray right now. You don’t have to kneel or start talking in King James English—or even talk out loud for that matter. Just surrender to God. Ask Him to help you live your life for Him. And follow through by getting to know Him. That’s all He wants—for you to know Him. Not on your terms either. It’s not your relationship with the ‘big guy upstairs.’ No. It’s His way. You can learn about Him by spending time in prayer and by studying His love letter (The Holy Bible) and obeying it which includes investing time with His family; that means sinking roots in a good Bible believing church. That’s it.

It’s a guarantee when you get it right with God the crazy world will still look crazy, but it won’t look so scary. Because you’ll be able to look through the eyes of the ONE who sees the big picture. The eyes of love. They eyes of a happy ending.


Get it right at home

Terrorists are teaching, via internet, ‘random acts of violence.’ They distorted that from a Christian practice of ‘random acts of kindness.’

When John the Baptist was asked, “What should we do?” John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?” He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.” “What should we do?” asked some soldiers. John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.” (Luke 3:10-14)

Jesus went about doing good.

A sermon is best heard through a life at home rather a preachers microphone.

Doing good wins. Overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).


The B-I-B-L-E yes that’s the book for me

I stand alone on the word of God the B-I-B-L-E. Do you remember singing that in Sunday School?

I’ve heard president Obama quote the Quran and call it “The Holy Quran.” He may believe that, and multitudes do.

I have a limited amount of training regarding Islam, but without any study of the religion I can say without any shadow of a doubt the following:

God gave us Himself in the flesh of Jesus Christ His Son. And in His written word by inspiring forty different authors over about two-thousand years to pen His words in sixty-six books we call, The Holy Bible.

The Holy Bible is the only book on earth that has ever and will ever hold the title of being “Holy.” Period.

The Holy Bible has been the best seller of all times. That in itself is a miracle and an undeniable proof and introduction to The God of all creation. I don’t have to be an expert to know this to be true. I only have to know The Author. And I do.


Can’t you see the king is naked?

Stop pretending.

Political correctness calls good evil and evil good. Fear of offending has blinded the world to an evil run rampant. The terrorists that plague our world are masters at deception as their god is the father of lies. The names change from day to day but they all have the same master—the devil. That’s spelled: d-EVIL. We’ve clothed our enemy with names like terrorist, Islam, Muslim or government and have become blind to the naked truth.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

It’s past time to remove the blinders and call a spade a spade.


master of disguise

There are folks who associate with evil entities and yet they want to do good and right—they believe they are on the side of good. The devil disguises himself as an angel of light and only those who know the True Light, Jesus Christ, will recognize a counterfeit.

There’s good and bad in every breed and brand. We must not judge a person as evil simply because they appear to belong to an organization manipulated by evil. Many are simply deceived. And then again, we can’t believe a person is right and good just because they put on a suit and tie and give a pretty speech.

How can people inside an evil organization want to be good? And how do we handle it?

A relationship with Jesus makes the answer to this question clear. Every person on this planet has been created in the image of God with a built in compass that knows right from wrong. Even terrorists.

God doesn’t look on the outward appearance, but on the heart. We are to imitate Him.

That Muslim family that moved into your neighborhood? God loves them. They may want to chop your head off—or they may be searching for Love in all the wrong places.

I’m glad God keeps it simple. I don’t have to figure out someone else’s heart issues—that’s His job. I just have to know Him. God is love. Go and do likewise.

Now, if you think love means being a door mat to be walked on, you haven't been paying attention and you don't know the meaning of love. Love doesn’t ask permission. It just does love.


Do love like this:

Get right with God by knowing Him, His Word and His people.

Do right, don’t ask permission and don’t back down.

And no matter what…never ever take off His ring.
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