I am really struggling with this world violence against nonbelievers by the Muslim faith.  I feel I need to say something more on this subject. 
     We peoples of the United States are made up of a cross section of all the worlds peoples. We are the poor, the persecuted, the downtrodden from all countries of the world.  Our Lord has preserved this land for those peoples...his peoples, to be a safe haven from the world's autocrats, dictators, hardships.  We have many Muslims that have immigrated here to flee from that situation, and live here in peace and brotherhood beside other people of many other faiths.  If you attack our peoples, our shores, if you do not already know it, we will spend all of our wealth if necessary to pursue you  to the ends of the earth to bring you to justice and, if it comes to that, to destroy you.  You have violated God's land when you attack us here.  We desire peace, love, compassion, but, when angered by destruction and death, we carry a swift, mighty, and deadly sword. We come in peace, love, compassion...let it be so.  We desire to give freely to you, to be of service to you...let it be so.

And the LORD sent an angel who destroyed every mighty warrior, commander and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned in shame to his own land. And when he had entered the temple of his god, some of his own children killed him there with the sword.

2 Chronicles 32:21  

     These are times that try men's souls.  The bombing in Boston has to be on the minds of many people.  Why?  This carnage has been going on since the 70's in one form or another.  I think the world, and hope the Muslims, have grown weary of it all.  Our Lord commands us to love all of mankind for they are his creation.  Let him be the judge for he judges by the entire life, not a few moments or acts.  I will continue to love Muslims as creations of our Lord, but their religion...  There is only one God.  He loves us unconditionally and commands us to do the same with all of mankind.  He forgives all our sins and commands us to do the same.  A God that commands his people to kill nonbelievers if they don't convert and to kill innocent women, children, even people of their own faith indiscriminately, is not a God.

I, the LORD, am the one, and I won't give my name and glory to another, nor my praise to idols.

Isaiah 42:8

     Let us continue to love all, but give our loving God's name to no other.

     We hear of nations threatening nuclear war, see bombings at peaceful gatherings that kill innocent people and children.  If you truly must fear something or someone, fear God, for he is in total control. Pray to him for protection.  Do not worry. As our Lord Jesus said,

"And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

Matthew 6:27

Also, we hear of persecution or even massacres over our faith. As a Christian, you may be persecuted and, at times, tortured or even put to death for your belief.  As Christians we need to pray for all our brothers and sisters in lands or situations in which they are suffering merely for their love and faith in our Lord.  Jesus never said it would be an easy life as a Christian.  Quite the contrary.  But, you need to know your brothers and sisters in Christ are praying and thinking of you.  If you truly must fear something or someone, fear God, for he is in total control. Pray to him for protection.  Do not worry.   The things we suffer in his name are for his glory and not for our understanding.  However, be assured, he  rewards all those who suffer in his name and continue their faith.  They are the ones blessed above all. 

Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:10

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12 

     Remember, Jesus said he will be back for us and rule over this world.  I have a feeling he has a beautiful and glorious return planned as only our God is capable of pulling off.  In the meantime, let us remember the words from a famous American song, Battle Hymn of the Republic:

As he died to make men holy

let us live to make men free

And what better way to make men free than to give them the GOOD NEWS about the kingdom of heaven.

     Two men stood facing and gesticulating toward one another after exiting the bus.  Currently, they were arguing in a sensible, intelligent, yet lively, manner over the subject of Christianity and the existence of God.  One, a Christian, the other, a confirmed atheist.  The atheist, becoming frustrated with not being able to win his point, turned with a huff  to cross the street in a consumed by the moment state not paying attention to the traffic.  The Christian, no more aware of the traffic than the atheist, said, as the man stepped into the street, how can it harm you to believe in a God that is unconditionally loving, commands his children to love everyone, tells us not to judge anyone, is all forgiving, and asks that we merely have faith? 
     At that moment the atheist stopped and turned to answer the Christian, and, at that same moment, a car, driven by a cell phone distracted driver, veered wildly toward the curb where the atheist, had he continued in the same direction,  would have been.  Both men were startled by the screeching brakes and the sound and sight of the car flying by with merely inches to spare. 
     Both men stood staring in silence at one another until the Christian's face slowly filled with a smile as he said, God just saved your life.  The atheist, still shaken from the vision of what would have happened if he had stepped into the street, said, it really makes you think...doesn't it?
     The Christian replied, I think we could both use a cup of coffee, my friend.  They turned and walked quietly down the sidewalk together. 

     Being a Christian does not mean life without conflict, stress, worry, problems in general...it means learning to put it in God's hands.  After all, he created and is in charge of everything.  Ask for his guidance and help and listen.  As Christians, we may be asked to take on more than people without our faith in our Lord.  We should feel honored that our Lord gives us such responsibility and trust.  But, leave the worry in his hands.  It is not easy for me to do this always.  We are not chosen because we are perfect.  We are chosen because we are imperfect, and he loves us unconditionally. 
     Let us pray for our Lord to give the leaders of North Korea and Iran and the United States wisdom and courage in making sensible and wise decisions in all matters and soften their hearts toward one another and guide them toward peaceful solutions.

     Truly, we are saved by our faith.  What harm can it do to have faith in the divine, loving, and good Lord that our Bible presents to us, but what harm can it do to reject this and put your faith in man made technology alone?  When one begins to study and live the loving and good life pronounced by our Lord Jesus, one begins to build the faith Jesus speaks of in the New Testament.  This action
begins the transformation into a new and glorious self inspired by and permeated by our Lord's total love and goodness.  What harm can it do?  None, I believe.  Have faith.  Spread the good news, for he has died and is risen to life.  Therefore, his life has fulfilled all the prophecies and restored life to all mankind; for he is the God of the living.  
     The distance from a standing man's hand to the ground where lies a desperate, lost, unloved human is but a mere 3 feet or so.  What effort does our Lord ask of us to bend down and offer a hand up in his name?  What effort does our Lord ask of us to share the limitless love he has bestowed upon us to that person?  A love that multiplies in the giving.  A love that heals all afflictions, builds bridges across all chasms...overpowers all hate and evil.  If you truly think our Lord's words through, you begin to understand that, if all share and love, want will have no thing to subsist upon.  And, it will be accomplished one man-one woman at a time.  It began with our God giving his son...let it continue and be finished through us in his name, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We owe him so much more. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rfkXbVcudc

God’s Faithfulness

1What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.

3What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:

“So that you may be proved right when you speak

and prevail when you judge.”^a

5But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” 8Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!

No One Is Righteous

9What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;

11there is no one who understands;

there is no one who seeks God.

12All have turned away,

they have together become worthless;

there is no one who does good,

not even one.”^b

13“Their throats are open graves;

their tongues practice deceit.”^c

“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”^d

14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”^e

15“Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16ruin and misery mark their ways,

17and the way of peace they do not know.”^f

18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”^g

19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

Righteousness Through Faith

21But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness is given through faith in^h Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,ⁱ through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Romans 3