Never apologize and never explain -- it's a sign of weakness.

Here we have an Illinois congressman, Mike Quigley of the 5th District, apologizing "on behalf of this country" to the American Islamic College Conference in Chicago.

I've grown weary of this and others that remind me of the "blame America first" mentality that was so prevalent in the late 70s that weakened the United States internationally.

It's like deja vu all over again. If you're not familiar with it, I high recommend Democrat Jeane Kirkpatrick's remarks at the Republican National Convention in 1984. An appetizer:

"But then, they always blame America first.

The American people know better.

They know that Ronald Reagan and the United States didn't cause Marxist dictatorship in Nicaragua, or the repression in Poland, or the brutal new offensives in Afghanistan, or the destruction of the Korean airliner, or the new attacks on religious and ethnic groups in the Soviet Union, or the jamming of western broadcasts, or the denial of Jewish emigration, or the brutal imprisonment of Anatoly Shcharansky and Ida Nudel, or the obscene treatment of Andrei Sakharov and Yelena Bonner, or the re-Stalinization of the Soviet Union.

The American people know that it's dangerous to blame ourselves for terrible problems that we did not cause.

They understand just as the distinguished French writer, Jean Francois Revel, understands the dangers of endless self- criticism and self-denigration.

He wrote: 'Clearly, a civilization that feels guilty for everything it is and does will lack the energy and conviction to defend itself.'

With the election of Ronald Reagan, the American people declared to the world that we have the necessary energy and conviction to defend ourselves, and that we have as well a deep commitment to peace."

• Also published at Conservative Reformed Mafia.

We are advancing constantly and we're not interested in holding onto anything except the enemy.

Coinciding with Ramadan (August 1-30), there is a concerted prayer effort for the spiritual liberation of Muslim people.

Islam has infiltrated much of the planet, even the United States, but I will join with many others in prayer that the light of Christ will infiltrate the spiritual darkness of the lands deceived and imprisoned by Islam.

Whilst Muslims consecrate themselves to Islam and its false prophet Mohammad, I will be praying that God has mercy on them to show them the folly of following such a depraved man that they might instead turn from their sin and trustingly follow the impeccable one, the Lord Jesus Christ.

For those who love Christ and long to see His bride realized (cf. Rev 7:9-12), I invite you to join your brothers & sisters these next 30 days in praying against the spread of Islam and praying for the spread of Christ's kingdom.

• Read more about unifying in prayer for the salvation of Muslims.
• Read more about unreached people groups in need of Christ.
  

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
-Ephesians 6:12, ESV

The Chinaman is not the issue!

Did you see this story about a man who pranked the Muslim folks by putting ham in their shoes whilst they were praying?

Whether or not his action was good bull or bad bull is not the issue for me, so much as a trend I've noticed.

Those who don't like or don't respect the religious/political ideology of Islam are being labeled as "racist."

The title of the newspaper article is "Racist who filled Muslims' shoes with ham as they prayed in a mosque walks free from court."

Since when was religious persecution "racist"? Last I checked Islam was not a "race" or an ethnicity, but a set of beliefs that impact behavior.

Perhaps I'm just whipped by the overuse of calling someone racist who has a disagreement with a person who's white when the accuser is too lazy to actually interact on an ideological level.

To be fair, someone who hates the religious/political ideology of Islam may be many things, but of necessity one of them is not "racist." And I should know, because I'm not a racist and would resent any such insinuation.

You don't need to see his identification. These are not the droids you're looking for.

Most Americans, particularly those who are not Muslims, are rather ignorant of Islam, having very little firsthand knowledge. We tend to believe what we hear from supposed credible sources, like the news and those in the Oval Office.

However, George W. Bush began a trend after 9/11 which has been continued wherein folks in US authority make it their burden to do PR work for Islam, often missing the mark significantly in the process.

First, 3 things you probably didn't know about Islam:

1. Islam has not been hijacked.
2. Striving to institute worldwide Shari'a Law is a religious duty.
3. Muslims are allowed to deceive non-Muslims if it helps Islam.

Second, a commonly held myth about the prevalence of Islam in the USA:



Third, with apologies up front for a bit of exclamatory language therein, a sobering reminder of Islamic terrorist activity in our own country:

Troops are ready for inspection, sir.

At Providence Church last night Mike Gendron taught, challenging us with the question, "Is Christ's Last Command Our First Concern?"

It was a great reminder of the priority of the Great Commission, as well as some excellent practical applications. (Cf. Mike Gendron's article on Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries website: Making Christ's Last Command Our First Concern.)

It also got me thinking about a wedding I did the previous week and my citation of God's command to "be fruitful and multiply." (Gen 1:28; 9:7)

I think sometimes missed in that is the focus and rationale for such a command. It's not merely that God wants a populated planet and enjoys seeing lots of babies. This is a command that God gives to His people. The expectation is that hearers will not only have kids, but will do what God commands and disciple them unto godliness.

Thus, I submit to you that the command to "be fruitful and multiply" is really a Great Commission verse. You help fulfill the Great Commission of "making disciples" (Matt 28:18-20) by having children in whom you cultivate Christlikeness. God is obeyed and God is glorified.

Sadly, I think followers of false religions understand this better than we do. Evangelicals* tend to have a birth rate significantly below that of Muslims, Roman Catholics, etc. For those of us particularly concerned about the rising influence of Islam in this country, self included, the fact that they are "taking ground" without having to resort to war or the shedding of blood shows just how shrewd a threat followers of the religion of non-peace really are.

The solution is not to pick up guns or have more babies. The solution is to make more disciples, as God enables, including being fruitful and multiplying to that end.

• See also Gunny's somewhat lighthearted encouragement to pursue par or better with regard to family size: Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three.

*I'm not sure if the term "evangelical" really has much meaningful significance anymore, but that's another show, as Donahue would would say.

Freedom, baby ... is never having to say you're sorry.

CNN's Lou Dobbs reports about the UN attempting to limit free speech where religion is concerned, particularly prohibiting any criticism of Islam ... including among all member nations, regardless of what any hypothetical First Amemdment might say. (HT Alpha & Omega Ministries via Jade)

This gives you a nice feel for how Islam operates whilst in the majority.



If you don't watch this video clip, then the terrorists have already won.