Is there no hope for change? – Cosmocon reblog

Peanut Gallery: As we approach the celebration of our nation’s birthday, I am disheartened. I will fly the flag, but not with great enthusiasm. Why? Because, as Cosmocon points out “the United States is coming apart.”

And I don’t think this is just the sour grapes prognosis of a couple of old white guys. I think we are dealing with something much larger than that… way beyond organizational or political solutions.

This is a heavenly battle being played out on earth before our very eyes.

Please read Cosmocon’s original blog here:

http://cosmoscon.com/2013/07/02/is-there-no-hope-for-change/

And, as the saying goes, get on your knees and fight like a man.
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Is There No Hope For Change? – Cosmocon

The United States is coming apart and I don’t know how we save it.

We have reached a point where our overreaching Government has become so big that it is out of the control of even those who support it.

IRS, DoJ, NSA, looming Obamacare, Debt greater than our GDP, unsustainable entitlement programs….the list goes on and on.

Even today, the architect of Obamacare realized that he must scale back the employer mandate until after the mid-term elections. Of course he’s doing this because businesses have been expressing their displeasure to the Administration and the last thing Obama needs is another repeat of the 2010 mid-terms.

We are also seeing massive protests by the Pro-Abortion crowd because the Texas Legislature is trying to pass a bill to outlaw Abortions after 20 weeks. The vile tweets in the #StandWithWendy and #StandWithTXWomen are enough to make you sick to your stomach and it makes me wonder how we became a nation where many choose to defend the right to kill viable babies just for the sake of birth control. It’s not enough that we had to read about the evil inside Gosnell’s abortion clinic but there appears to be a large segment of the population that are totally cool with killing babies right up to birth.

@gdthomp01 I support a pregnant persons choice to terminate the pregnancy at any point. #prochoice #abortionondemandwithoutapology— (@GingerTimeLady) July 01, 2013

It’s enough to make me throw up my hands and wonder how we take this country back. There is a great PowerPoint presentation showing how Conservatives can be a force multiplier and get involved in precinct activism and it is worth a read by everyone. While that is good work that we should definitely be involved with, I was left thinking that there was a bigger issue that we have to attack in order to rescue the US from the path we are on which is eerily similar to the Roman Empire.

Then I saw this video of #StandWithTXWomen people chanting “Hail Satan” and I realized what we need.

We aren’t just fighting a political war. If that were the case, the only thing that would save us would be a revolution. But a revolution is only successful when the vast majority of the citizens are in opposition to the ruling government and this isn’t the case now. There are too many people that are opposed to Conservative principles to solve this with a revolution. Do I have to remind you that Obama just won re-election by a decent margin? This is not a problem that can be solved by a revolution or a civil war.

We can’t combat the “Hail Satan” crowd, the #STandWithTXWomen crowd or the “Free Government Handout” crowd with blog posts and cute tweets. Let’s face it; we can’t do it by ourselves. I just can’t do it. I have failed. The chasm is too vast. America is more polarized now than ever before. We need help. I need help.

And when we reach the end of our rope and realize that we can’t do it on our own that is when we turn to a higher power. And then we find that Jesus has been waiting for us patiently all along.

We are fighting a Spiritual war in America and we just can’t win without help from the Holy Spirit. Only when we fall to our knees and admit we are powerless against the Prince of Darkness do we get help. The past few decades may have served the purpose to humble the Church and make us realize that we have neglected the One who could help us. It’s time to turn to Him. He’s the only hope we have.

“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

Morning Reading: Acts 11.1-18 NLT – privilege of repenting

Reading: Acts 11:1-18 NLT

Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God.

But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers criticized him. “You entered the home of Gentiles and even ate with them!” they said.

Then Peter told them exactly what had happened. “I was in the town of Joppa,” he said, “and while I was praying, I went into a trance and saw a vision. Something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners from the sky. And it came right down to me. When I looked inside the sheet, I saw all sorts of tame and wild animals, reptiles, and birds. And I heard a voice say, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.’

“‘No, Lord,’ I replied. ‘I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure or unclean. ’

“But the voice from heaven spoke again: ‘Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.’ This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled back up to heaven.

“Just then three men who had been sent from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were staying. The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry that they were Gentiles. These six brothers here accompanied me, and we soon entered the home of the man who had sent for us. He told us how an angel had appeared to him in his home and had told him, ‘Send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He will tell you how you and everyone in your household can be saved!’

“As I began to speak,” Peter continued, “the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning. Then I thought of the Lord’s words when he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?”

When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father – You have repeated this story of Cornelius’ conversion and baptism three times for emphasis – everyone, regardless of their background, has been given the privilege of repenting and receiving eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. No people, tribe or nation is left out… no matter what I might think of them. Lord Jesus – You died for my sins and the sins of the world. Give me a passion for the lost… wherever I might find them. Holy Spirit – Show your power… demonstrate the authenticity of those who believe and repent… so that together we might rejoice with the angels in heaven over every soul that receives eternal life. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Hosanna” – Hillsong United
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Morning Reading: Acts 10.24-48 NLT – no favoritism

Reading: Acts 10:24-48 NLT

They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.

Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.”

Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’ So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.”

Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

“And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”

Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God.

Then Peter asked, “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – Yours is a big family made up of people from every tribe and nation. Give me an open heart towards all who love and serve you. Holy Spirit– Manifest your presence and power in the life of every believer… and show us how to express our praise and longings of our hearts. Lord Jesus – Keep our eyes focused on you, to the end that every knee shall bow and tongue confess you as Lord. Amen.

Hymn: “Show me your glory” – Jesus Culture
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Update: Egypt’s army issues 48-hour ultimatum to leadership – France24

Egypt’s army issues 48-hour ultimatum to leadership

The head of Egypt's armed forces, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said the army would remain a 'solid and cohesive block' on which the state could rely. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

The head of Egypt’s armed forces gave politicians 48 hours to answer demands made by the Egyptian people on Monday, threatening to offer the army’s own “road map for the future” if the protests, which have seen at least six people killed, go ignored.

Tens of thousands of Egyptians gathered at Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Monday night welcomed a 48-hour military ultimatum to President Mohammed Morsi and other politicians to resolve the current political crisis or face an intervention.

“Tahrir Square is packed to the gills tonight,” said FRANCE 24’s Kathryn Stapley, reporting from Cairo. “People have come out in the tens of thousands, the streets and side-streets are packed down to the bridges. They’ve been galvanised by the sheer number of people who turned out yesterday as well as the army statement today.”

Egyptian opposition protesters chant during a demonstration in Tahrir Square as part of the 'Tamarod' campaign on June 30, 2013 in Cairo. (Ed Giles /AFP/Getty Images)

A day after millions of Egyptians across the country took to the streets urging Morsi’s resignation, the country’s powerful military issued a statement calling on Egypt’s politicians to “meet the demands of the people” within 48 hours or the army would be forced to “announce a roadmap for the future and the steps for overseeing its implementation”.

In the statement, which was broadcast on state television, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said the latest protests reflected an “unprecedented” expression of popular anger against Morsi.

The declaration was met with delight on the streets of Cairo, where protesters cheered, honked their car horns and waved flags as army helicopters hovered over Tahrir Square, dropping Egyptian flags on the protesters. “Come down Sisi, Morsi is not my president,” protesters chanted, urging the country’s army chief to intervene.

“There was an explosion of joy here in Tahrir Square,” said Stapley. “Many of the protesters here have taken that statement to mean that the army has taken the protesters’ side.”

Hours after the first announcement, Egypt’s armed forces issued a second declaration denying that the earlier statement by Sisi amounted to a military coup and said his aim was only to push politicians to reach consensus.

Morsi meets army chief

Shortly after the announcement, Morsi and Prime Minister Hisham Kandil met with Sisi, according to a statement posted on the Egyptian president’s official Facebook page, which showed a photograph of the three men. The statement did not provide details of when and where the photograph was taken.

In an interview with AFP earlier Monday, a senior Muslim Brotherhood official Mahmud Ghozlan said the movement’s political bureau would be meeting to study the military’s ultimatum and to “decide on its position”.

More than two years after the fall of former Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak, Egypt is once again at the centre of international attention as the world’s most populous Arab nation confronts divisions between Islamist-supporters and secular Egyptians, watched over by a powerful military that briefly – and disastrously – held power shortly after Mubarak’s ouster.

During a visit to Tanzania, US President Barack Obama renewed a call for Morsi and his opponents to cooperate, just as Sisi’s statement was being broadcast on Egyptian state TV.

The Pentagon, which funds the Egyptian army heavily, said it could not speculate on what was about to happen in Egypt.

‘This is very embarrassing for Mohammed Morsi’

The army statement came as five Cabinet ministers met on Monday to consider resigning their posts and joining the protest movement, the state news agency reported. The meeting gathered the communications, legal affairs, environment, tourism and water utilities ministers, according to MENA.

“This is very embarrassing for Mohammed Morsi,” said Stapley, noting that while the five ministers were not members of the Muslim Brotherhood, they were technocrats handpicked by the Egyptian president. “It just shows that the divisions here are reaching from the grassroots – from a signature campaign that ordinary citizens signed stating that they have no confidence in the president – right up to the heart of his government.”

Earlier Monday, the campaign that spearheaded Sunday’s mass protests announced that it would give Morsi until 5pm local time (3p.m. GMT) on Tuesday, July 2, to leave power, allowing state institutions to prepare for early presidential elections.

The campaign, called Tamarod – or rebellion in Arabic – claims to have collected 22 million signatures in an online campaign calling on the president to resign. Morsi backers have questioned the authenticity of the signatures.

Tamarod’s call for Morsi’s resignation came as protesters stormed the headquarters of the ruling Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo on Monday morning, burning the premises and looting office supplies in the course of a long siege that left at least seven people dead.

Urgent call for prayer: Christians in Egypt – World Watch List #25

EGYPT (Wikipedia) – World Watch List#25 (Open Doors UK)
Leader: President Mohammed Morsi
Population: 82.84 million (10 million Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Republic
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism

The 2011 revolution that ousted President Mubarak initially brought Muslims and Christians together, but improved relations were short-lived. The Muslim Brotherhood won parliamentary elections in November 2011 and a new Islamist-backed constitution was signed into law in December 2012. Support for both the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi Islam is growing. The government has been unable to impose necessary law and order, to the detriment of the protection of Christians. Persecution is on the rise and massive emigration of Christians is a concern. But the church continues to grow.

AN URGENT CALL FOR PRAYER
+ For Muslims and Christians, that no lives would be lost
+ For the witness of Christians to remain a clear light in the middle of such darkness
+ For divine love to fill the hearts of Christians for their persecutors and for the joy of the Lord to be their strength in these coming tough days.
+ For an end to violent unrest and for true freedom and democracy to be established
+ That the new Coptic Pope, Tawadros II, will continue to unite the denominations in Egypt so that the church is united in sharing the gospel

PERSECUTION DYNAMICS:

In response to the call for nationwide protests against President Morsi, planned to take place at the end of June, Egyptian Christians are making an impassioned plea for worldwide prayer.

“We, Christians of Egypt, who love our country and seek God’s redemption for every soul, are urging our dear brothers and sisters in the extended body of Christ all over the world, to lift our country up before the throne and to create together a shield of prayers to stand against the great evil that is threatening to fall on Egypt in the coming few days.

Nationwide protests

“In response to the call for nationwide protests against President Morsi, planned to take place on 30 June, multitudes of Egyptians are planning to go down to the streets in every city, town or village, one year after Morsi had sworn the oath into office on 30 June 2012.

“The opposition movement has managed, through an army of volunteers, to collect 15 million signed forms of Egyptians who proclaim their rebellion against, and rejection of, President Morsi and his regime, calling for early presidential elections.

“In return, the Muslim Brotherhood Party and its supporters have also claimed to have been collecting millions of signatures to support President Morsi. They have also called their followers to fill all major squares of Egypt on the 28June.

“Please stay by our side”

“No one in Egypt today speaks about anything but the expected scenarios of the very likely confrontation between the two sides of the split nation. There is a gloomy spirit of anticipating that the worst is most likely going to happen. Please stay by our side and join us in prayer.”

BACKGROUND:

Egypt is home to around 10 million Christians but Islam is the state religion and the population is predominantly Muslim. Massive emigration is a concern and persecution is on the rise. The country made headlines in October 2011 with the Maspero massacre in which 26 Coptic Christians were killed.

The Muslim Brotherhood won the parliamentary elections on 25 November 2011 and is now in control of the country’s legislative and executive power, making Islam more visible. No political answers have been given to the problems of poverty and unemployment faced by the country so the people seek refuge in religion and are vulnerable to radical expressions of Islam. Support for both the Muslim Brotherhood and strict Salafi Islam is growing. However, the church is also growing slowly.

Egypt’s future will largely be determined by politics. A new constitution could drastically reshape the country. However, a scenario in which the church is confined to a situation of dhimmitude is more likely in light of recent developments.

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