A Wave of Muslim Conversions to Jesus Christ

Many saw the new this weekend that Pope Benedict XVI baptized into the Roman Catholic Church Italy's most prominent Muslim writer during his Easter mass. I am not a fan of Roman Catholic practices or dogmas, but that is amazing news, just the same.

What is important to note is that this is not just an isolated incident.

Increasingly, Muslims are questioning the tenets of their faith, and the practices carried on in its name. This has led many to look elsewhere for truth. Christianity, especially the biblical gospel, seems to be gaining hearers and followers in unprecedented numbers.

For a refreshing report on one way that God is doing His work in the Middle East read this article by Raymond Ibrahim, posted on National Review Online, about Father Zakaria Botros, an Egyptian Coptic cleric (whose own site has clear presentations of the gospel) whose TV show on a satellite channel is having remarkable influence throughout the Muslim world.

My friend, John Cook, tells me that in conversations with Iraqi pastors, the church there is exploding with growth through the conversion of Muslims.

Joel Rosenberg reports on Muslim conversions to Christianity as the untold story of the region and the decade.

Amazing stuff.

Let Judas Shake You

This is from John Piper on the Desiring God blog. Thought provoking as usual.

Hard Words on the Bush Presidency

While I am not certain I agree with all of this, David Frum's Diary on National Review Online gives a critical, and I fear all too accurate evaluation of the Bush presidency's inability to pick and manage the right team of leaders.

And near the end of this article by Michael Barone, the same theme appears--the President has been too willing to let others go too far down their own paths, to allow his own subordinates to undercut his policies, and to let others choose his military leaders without exercising a president's authority to question them.

Shelby Steele on Barack Obama

In an article entitled, "The Obama Bargain" in the Wall Street Journal, Shelby Steele, an incredible writer (who happens to be black) offers his insightful critique on the role of race in the success, thus far, of Senator Obama's candidacy, and the danger to it of the revelations about Obama's church.

Make no mistake. Rev. Wright (Obama's pastor) is no evangelical, nor is his church one that is in any way amenable to the biblical gospel. Whether Senator Obama is himself a true follower of Jesus cannot be known by his belonging to this church.

'Gilligan's' Mary Ann caught with dope - Yahoo! News

Mary Ann, say it ain't so!

Gilligan had a drug history as well, or at least Bob Denver did, before his death in 2005.

At least the Skipper and Mr. & Mrs. Howell didn't live to see this day! What does Ginger think? Will the Professor offer an anti-drug invention made of coconuts and bamboo?

Southern Baptists Fight Climate Change (AP)

Don't worry, they still fight against drinking and gambling, too, but a group of SBC leaders, including its president, have now weighed in against global warming. You can find the AP's news report here.

Now, I'll probably get abuse on for this, but having actually watched Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth," and then read many of the critiques of both it and the global climate change theory in general, I tend to think that there may be at least some prudence in considering whether substantially increasing carbon dioxide levels due to the use of fossil fuels might have an impact on our atmosphere and thus on ocean temperatures, ice caps, etc. (just go back and read all the qualifiers in that sentence!). I'm not embracing the theory, or rejecting it as more liberal lunacy. I don't see how the Kyoto Treaty, which exempted the nations who were doing the worst at curbing emissions from its restrictions, would do any good. And I am proud that the U.S. actually leads in the development of the technology and implementation to reduce such emissions.

All that said, I'm wondering just why we needed church leaders to weigh in on the subject--as church leaders . It is not a moral question, nor is it one that offers clear moral solutions. Nor one that the church needs to give "top down" guidance to people about--although as the article points out, "no one speaks on behalf of all Southern Baptists (no truer words were ever written!). Many cite "creation care" as the mandate under which such guidance should be offered, but one man's or nation's idea of care may end another's livelihood.

This is a time when speaking up as a concerned citizen is absolutely appropriate, but to do so displaying the label of "pastor" or "denominational leader" seems an attempt to transfer credibility, as if one is saying, "I'm an expert in soul care, so listen to me about climate change." I've just told you that I have some concerns about what we should do related to this issue, and you know I am a pastor, but that does not mean I am an expert, nor someone whose word should carry more weight because I have advanced degrees in theology and watch the news.

Equal Time for Rome

OK, I gave the Church of England's leader a reprimand here a few weeks back--I haven't heard from him, but I am sure he is still grieving.

Now, let me turn my attention to the Vatican, and its list of "new sins," including pollution according to a spokesman for the Holy See. Are there new sins, in the sense of violations of God's Word? Probably not. There can be new ways to manifest old sins, and I think that is what is being discussed here in rather incautious terms.

Muhammad and Man at Harvard

Reading Michael Graham's article in the Boston Herald will let you see how things have come full circle at the institution founded by believers to train ministers for New England's churches. Yes, I know that this is old news, but what is even more interesting is that the new policy betrays Harvard's later commitment to a thorough going liberal openness. Here is the gist of the article.

Six times a week, Harvard kicks all the guys out of the Quadrangle Recreational Athletic Center at the request of the Harvard Islamic Society. This is to accommodate those female Muslim students whose faith won’t let them work out in front of men.
In the old days, Harvard would have laughed if some Catholic or evangelical mother urged “girls-only” campus workouts in the name of modesty. Today, Harvard happily implements Sharia swim times in the name of Mohammed.
At Harvard, that’s called progress.
When I asked Harvard spokesman Bob Mitchell about this new Sharia-friendly policy, he denied that they were banning anyone. “No, no,” he told me, “we’re permitting women to work out in an environment that accommodates their religion.”
By banning all men from the facility, right?
“It’s not ‘banning,’ ” he insisted. “We’re allowing, we’re accommodating people.”

I am not against men's and women's times in various facilities, but when the only reason for the accommodation is a religious preference, that seems, well, less than liberal!