About two weeks ago (I cannot find the exact date), a construction worker was digging up a peat bog somewhere in Ireland for the purpose of creating commercial potting soil when he saw something in the bog. That something turned out to be an ancient selection of psalms in Latin that has been dated to around 800AD-1000AD. The discovery has been called a miracle find because of the unlikely chance that it would be preserved in a peat bog and the equally unlikely chance that it would be discovered.
A woman who is raped in a Muslim country is often treated as the criminal and not the victim--in a very literal way. Under Hudood, a set of Quranic laws, a women who claims to have been attacked must have four Muslim men who witnessed the attack and testify on her behalf. Otherwise, she will be prosecuted for fornication. Penalites for a guilty sentence include stoning to death, lashing or prison. Although Pakistan is attempting to soften this law, there is much opposition. It is still in full effect in countries like Iran, Sudan, and Saudi Arabia, and women are being imprisoned or executed in these countries for the infraction of being raped. It is no wonder that there is a growing number of Muslims who are finding the love of Jesus Christ. We need to increase our efforts to take the gospel of salvation to these precious souls.
From an article in the August 5, 2005, edition of "World" magazine, we learn of the growing dangers in America for those who practice biblical discipline with their children. In South Dakota, a ten year old girl stole a CD from a local Kmart and was grounded. She later lied to her parents about breaking the rules of her grounding and then threw a fit when asked to clean green marker scribbles off the walls and carpet of her room. Her mother spanked her with a belt, giving her six spanks which left no marks or bruises. The girl immediately straightened up and produced the desired behavior. Last December, the South Dakota Supreme Court upheld the ruling of the Department of Human Services that this action was abuse and neglect. In the state of Minnesota, laws on the books give a prison sentence up to a year and fines up to $3,000 for corporal punishment which results "in less than substantial bodily harm." The state includes "any physical pain" as part of its definition for "bodily harm." 65% of Americans still approve of spanking, but we are quickly losing the right to corrrect our children according to the Bible. Certainly, there is abuse and that abuse should be punished, but the above example is not abuse. The real criminals in this story are the courts and the DHS officials.
According to an editorial in today's Wall Street Journal by Bernard Lewis, August 22nd of this year corresponds to the 27th of Rajab in the Islamic calendar. This is the date when many Muslims "commemorate the night flight of the prophet Muhamman on the winged horse Buraq, first to 'the farthest mosque,' usually identified with Jerusalem, and then to heaven and back (c.f., Koran XVII.1). This might well be deemed an appropriate date for the apocalyptic ending of Israel and if necessary of the world. It is far from certain that Mr. Ahmedinejad [President of Iran] plans any such cataclysimic events precisely for Aug. 22. But it would be wise to bear the possiblity in mind."
When my children were growing up, we kept a long-standing tradition from my wife's family of telling our children at bedtime: "Sleep tight, and don't let the bedbugs bite." We never had trouble with the bedbugs ourselves, but were assured that this used to be a major problem. However, according to an article in today's Knoxville News Sentinel, the bedbugs are back. They had been absent from the United States since about the time of World War II and many people thought they were just an old fable, but they are quickly making a comeback. These small insects feed exclusively on the blood of animals and humans causing itchy red welts with their bites and they are extremely difficult to exterminate.
