Not Good News
From Crosswalk.com:
Syrian President Bashar Assad is calling on Arab states to defend Iraq while Syria's top religious authority has called for suicide attacks against U.S. and British troops fighting to topple the regime of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Assad, an outspoken opponent of the allied war against Iraq, said he hopes the Americans will fail, according to an interview published in the Lebanese newspaper As-Safir on Thursday.
Assad called on the Arab states to invoke the joint Arab defense treaty, which calls on them to defend any Arab country that is being invaded, according to a translation provided by the Middle East Media Research Institute.
Thursday, March 27, 2003
Tony Blair's Plane Hit by Lightning
From Salon.com:
The plane carrying British Prime Minister Tony Blair to a meeting with President Bush was struck by lightning as it approached the United States on Wednesday, a reporter on board said. No injuries or damage were reported.
Britain's Press Association news agency said Blair's chartered British Airways Boeing 777 was struck by a lightning bolt as it approached Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland at about 10,000 feet. It landed 20 minutes later, at 5:05 p.m.
From Salon.com:
The plane carrying British Prime Minister Tony Blair to a meeting with President Bush was struck by lightning as it approached the United States on Wednesday, a reporter on board said. No injuries or damage were reported.
Britain's Press Association news agency said Blair's chartered British Airways Boeing 777 was struck by a lightning bolt as it approached Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland at about 10,000 feet. It landed 20 minutes later, at 5:05 p.m.
Pope Pleads for Faithful to Pray the Rosary for Peace
I'm doing it, are you? Like Archbishop O'Brien the military ordianariate said the best way to support the troops is to pray for peace.
John Paul II will also make a pilgrimage to marian shrine to pray for peace.
From Zenit News:
John Paul II plans to go on pilgrimage this year to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Pompeii, near Naples, Italy, to pray for world peace.
Before bidding farewell to the thousands of pilgrims who attended today's general audience, the Pope said that he, and all believers, are living "with our heart oppressed by the news coming from Iraq which is in war, without forgetting the other conflicts that rage on earth."
"How important it is that during this Year of the Rosary we persevere in praying the rosary to implore peace!" he added. "I ask that you continue to do so, especially in Marian shrines."
He added: "To Mary, Queen of the Rosary, I now entrust my intention to go to her shrine in Pompeii next Oct. 7 on the occasion of the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. May Mary's maternal intercession obtain justice and peace for the entire world."
I'm doing it, are you? Like Archbishop O'Brien the military ordianariate said the best way to support the troops is to pray for peace.
John Paul II will also make a pilgrimage to marian shrine to pray for peace.
From Zenit News:
John Paul II plans to go on pilgrimage this year to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Pompeii, near Naples, Italy, to pray for world peace.
Before bidding farewell to the thousands of pilgrims who attended today's general audience, the Pope said that he, and all believers, are living "with our heart oppressed by the news coming from Iraq which is in war, without forgetting the other conflicts that rage on earth."
"How important it is that during this Year of the Rosary we persevere in praying the rosary to implore peace!" he added. "I ask that you continue to do so, especially in Marian shrines."
He added: "To Mary, Queen of the Rosary, I now entrust my intention to go to her shrine in Pompeii next Oct. 7 on the occasion of the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. May Mary's maternal intercession obtain justice and peace for the entire world."
Wednesday, March 26, 2003
The Allah Factor
I told Amy the other evening that the sandstorm would be seen by the Iraqi's and indeed much of the Moslem world as a sign from God that he was fighting for them. Indeed that is now being reported as the story below shows.
Nothing surprising about this, it is an expression of faith that nothing happens that God does not allow or ordain. In fact in the end when the coalition forces take over the country that too will be seen as an act of God.
How many Christians in the west still have this type of faith? Do we see the hand of God in the events of our life or do we blame them on "bad luck" "poor planning" or our enemies? How we see the world and God's place in it forms our view of how we should act within it.
From Washingtonpost.com:
To Mohammed, the relentless sandstorm was foreboding, a portent of divine will.
"The storm is from God," he said, looking out his trembling window. "Until the aggression started, never in my life did I see a storm like this. We all believe in God, we all have faith in God. And God is setting obstacles against the Americans."
I told Amy the other evening that the sandstorm would be seen by the Iraqi's and indeed much of the Moslem world as a sign from God that he was fighting for them. Indeed that is now being reported as the story below shows.
Nothing surprising about this, it is an expression of faith that nothing happens that God does not allow or ordain. In fact in the end when the coalition forces take over the country that too will be seen as an act of God.
How many Christians in the west still have this type of faith? Do we see the hand of God in the events of our life or do we blame them on "bad luck" "poor planning" or our enemies? How we see the world and God's place in it forms our view of how we should act within it.
From Washingtonpost.com:
To Mohammed, the relentless sandstorm was foreboding, a portent of divine will.
"The storm is from God," he said, looking out his trembling window. "Until the aggression started, never in my life did I see a storm like this. We all believe in God, we all have faith in God. And God is setting obstacles against the Americans."
Amen!
From theBruderhof Communities:
I have great respect for every person who has recently attended a vigil, protest march, or peace rally. I myself have participated in dozens over the last four decades. But I am also concerned about the tensions, the divisiveness, and even open violence that is sometimes a part of these gatherings.
Yes, war is wrong; yes, killing is wrong. I will never waver from that. At the crucifixion of Jesus, after one of his disciples struck off the ear of a soldier, Jesus told him to put away his weapon, saying, “He that takes the sword shall perish by the sword.” Jesus was clearly no advocate of armed force. But neither did he condemn those who used it—even against him. On the contrary, he prayed for them, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
How timely Christ’s words are for us who claim to follow him! He spoke them as a sinless man. What about us, who contribute to war in so many ways, every day of our lives—with our greed and materialism, our backbiting and gossip, our unfaithfulness and family feuds, our arrogance, our general selfishness and our disregard for others? How do we stand before God, we who stand on the sidelines and condemn those who have planned this war, and those who are now fighting it?
The war in Iraq calls each of us who oppose it to make a choice. We can criticize the White House and the Pentagon. We can antagonize those we disagree with. We can rub salt into the wounds of families who have lost loved ones (or who fear losing them). We can look on soldiers and sailors and airmen as evil-doers.
Or we can show them love, as we have never shown love before. We can listen to those who are angry with us. We can encourage those who are hurt or bitter. We can take time for the children around us. Many of them will go to bed tonight with the images of a war that is thousands of miles away, but still scares and confuses them. And we can support the troops on both sides of the battle by praying for their safe return, and for a speedy end to hostilities.
From theBruderhof Communities:
I have great respect for every person who has recently attended a vigil, protest march, or peace rally. I myself have participated in dozens over the last four decades. But I am also concerned about the tensions, the divisiveness, and even open violence that is sometimes a part of these gatherings.
Yes, war is wrong; yes, killing is wrong. I will never waver from that. At the crucifixion of Jesus, after one of his disciples struck off the ear of a soldier, Jesus told him to put away his weapon, saying, “He that takes the sword shall perish by the sword.” Jesus was clearly no advocate of armed force. But neither did he condemn those who used it—even against him. On the contrary, he prayed for them, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
How timely Christ’s words are for us who claim to follow him! He spoke them as a sinless man. What about us, who contribute to war in so many ways, every day of our lives—with our greed and materialism, our backbiting and gossip, our unfaithfulness and family feuds, our arrogance, our general selfishness and our disregard for others? How do we stand before God, we who stand on the sidelines and condemn those who have planned this war, and those who are now fighting it?
The war in Iraq calls each of us who oppose it to make a choice. We can criticize the White House and the Pentagon. We can antagonize those we disagree with. We can rub salt into the wounds of families who have lost loved ones (or who fear losing them). We can look on soldiers and sailors and airmen as evil-doers.
Or we can show them love, as we have never shown love before. We can listen to those who are angry with us. We can encourage those who are hurt or bitter. We can take time for the children around us. Many of them will go to bed tonight with the images of a war that is thousands of miles away, but still scares and confuses them. And we can support the troops on both sides of the battle by praying for their safe return, and for a speedy end to hostilities.
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
Happy New Year!
To you traditionalists!
This used to be new year's day. Makes sense since today's feast celebrates the conception of Christ and Christians believe that life begins at conception. So up until 1753 this was it.
This is from Catholic Nexus:
Roman Church historian Dionysius Exiguus, in calculating his history of the Christian Church, took this day as the supposed date of the Annunciation. March 25th afterward became the first day of the calendar year, until the Gregorian Calendar Reform of 1753 changed the day to January 1st.
To you traditionalists!
This used to be new year's day. Makes sense since today's feast celebrates the conception of Christ and Christians believe that life begins at conception. So up until 1753 this was it.
This is from Catholic Nexus:
Roman Church historian Dionysius Exiguus, in calculating his history of the Christian Church, took this day as the supposed date of the Annunciation. March 25th afterward became the first day of the calendar year, until the Gregorian Calendar Reform of 1753 changed the day to January 1st.
Where Soldiers Pretend to Be Civilians and Civilians Pretend to Be Soldiers
Civilians are surrendering claiming to be soldiers so they can be fed as POW's.
From Reuters:
Who wants to be an Iraqi prisoner of war?
Plenty of people in southern Iraq it seems, as it is about the only way to get a square meal in this swathe of territory now controlled by U.S. and British forces.
With over 3,000 prisoners of war held in an enclosure on the outskirts of Umm Qasr, civilians in the battle-scarred port town are trying to "surrender" as a means of getting food and water.
"I am a deserter and I am trying to surrender," one Iraqi told Reuters on Monday at the gates of an ever-growing transit camp for genuine POWs.
But with no uniform or army identity tags or papers, the sentries guarding the facility turned him away.
Civilians are surrendering claiming to be soldiers so they can be fed as POW's.
From Reuters:
Who wants to be an Iraqi prisoner of war?
Plenty of people in southern Iraq it seems, as it is about the only way to get a square meal in this swathe of territory now controlled by U.S. and British forces.
With over 3,000 prisoners of war held in an enclosure on the outskirts of Umm Qasr, civilians in the battle-scarred port town are trying to "surrender" as a means of getting food and water.
"I am a deserter and I am trying to surrender," one Iraqi told Reuters on Monday at the gates of an ever-growing transit camp for genuine POWs.
But with no uniform or army identity tags or papers, the sentries guarding the facility turned him away.
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