Jesus Is the Reason for the Season

12/17/2012 – Steve Strang

 As our society becomes increasingly secular, it seems that celebrations of the birth of our Savior are less and less popular. At one time, it was common for cities and towns to have a Christmas tree and Christmas display. Then, due to “separation of church and state,” the displays had to be secular somehow and involve various other celebrations.

While I’ve decried that trend editorially, I don’t really expect the secular government to display Christmas symbols. I think churches and private individuals should do it. A few churches do, but most don’t. In fact, several years ago I wrote an editorial on this topic saying we should take the initiative to display Christian symbols at this wonderful happy time of year.

I decided I should practice what we preach. So we replaced the small, lighted nativity scene that we used for years in front of our home with some large commercial-grade figures we found online. Because they are pretty costly, we bought only Mary, Joseph and the Christ child to start. Each year, we’d add one or two.

As you can see above and below, we now have quite a display, complete with a star that we hang on the house. Several of our Jewish neighbors have commented how they know that Christmas is around the corner when we put up our display after Thanksgiving. Last week, one of our Jewish neighbors emailed me saying she enjoyed our Christmas lights.

(more…)

Continue ReadingJesus Is the Reason for the Season

Plan for mosque draws anti-Islam sentiment

ANGER at plans for a mosque and evangelical church to be built side-by-side in Melbourne’s east has spilled over amid claims Islam ”directly contravenes our freedom values”.

It was standing room only at the City of Casey chambers in Narre Warren on Tuesday night at one of the last meetings before the council debates a proposal to build a mosque and community centre on a vacant industrial lot in Green Street, Doveton.

The mosque would be next to the church and headquarters of Catch the Fire Ministries, run by controversial anti-Islam Pastor Danny Nalliah who was acquitted of a racial vilification charge brought by the Islamic Council of Victoria in 2006. The church has already been approved by council and construction is expected to begin within weeks.

Residents at the meeting cited traffic concerns, noise pollution, and fears the mosque would be used to preach hate speech.

Mayor Amanda Stapledon repeatedly asked the gallery of about 50 people to be quiet amid booing, cheering and heckling.

”This is not Afghanistan, have some guts for a change!” one man yelled at councillors. Another carried a sign that read: ”We love the Moslems but do not accept the teachings of the Koran”.

(more…)

Continue ReadingPlan for mosque draws anti-Islam sentiment

Council erupts over proposed Mosque next to Catch The Fire

Dear family & friends in Christ,

We at CTFM are so thankful to everyone who signed the petition against the building of a large Mosque right next to our newly planned CTFM church in Doveton, Victoria. We received more than 1000 signatures and very successfully submitted them to the City of Casey Council yesterday at the Council meeting.

The Casey Council was packed out with more than 100 people, including some holding placards calling on the Mosque project to be rejected by the Council and not to give the building permit. This included CTFM church members, local residents & factory owners.

In total there were more than 1600 signatures against the Mosque submitted by 4-5 different petitions by local residents, factory owners and CTFM supporters, of which many made their voice known at question and answer time.

The Councillors seemed quite shocked at the community outrage against the Mosque, as many people shouted out from the gallery at the different Council members, asking them to vote against the Mosque application in February 2013, when it comes up for voting.

The Deputy Mayor Sam Aziz, originally from Egypt, who is a Coptic Christian, took a very bold stand with the support of another Councillor Rosalie Costani and challenged the Mayor and the other Councillors to take a good look at Islam and the Koran’s teachings, before voting for or against the Mosque.

Councillor Aziz wanted to do a presentation on Islam and the Koran’s teachings, with a power point and video presentation, but unfortunately the Mayor blocked it.  Nevertheless, he still was able to present his case very well, while speaking about the submitted petitions.

Councillor Costani also took a very bold stand and spoke out against the dangers of Islam. The people from the gallery clapped and cheered them on.  On numerous occasions, the Mayor aggressively called the gallery to silence, but then backed down and let them continue.

(more…)

Continue ReadingCouncil erupts over proposed Mosque next to Catch The Fire

Pr Daniel on 2CC Radio Canberra / RUAP on Channel 9 Win TV

Dear friends and family in Christ, 1) You may click the following link to listen to Pr Daniel’s recent radio interview (7 min) with Mike Welsh of 2CC Canberra, regarding…

Continue ReadingPr Daniel on 2CC Radio Canberra / RUAP on Channel 9 Win TV

‘God Belongs In My City’ Youth Prayer Walk Revisits NYC

By Nicola Menzie , Christian Post Reporter – October 26, 2012

A prayer walk initiative birthed in New York City three years ago will again gather thousands of young people from every borough of New York City this weekend to declare once more “God Belongs In My City”.

The prayer walk, started in 2009 by school principal Daniel Sanabria and his church youth group in response to an atheist ad, has been making its way across dozens of U.S. cities and abroad, with events held this year in Haiti, Switzerland and Canada.

This Saturday, however, will bring the tour full circle as local Christian churches, groups and individuals converge at various NYC locations to declare their faith and pray for the city this Saturday, Oct. 27.

“God Belongs In My City is our declaration of Faith. As Christ came and changed the world, we as Christians ought to impact our city now. There is a call to fearlessly rise up as one and not collapse under the waves of this world. We are commissioned to carry forth the Gospel of Salvation!” the organization explains on its website.

(more…)

Continue Reading‘God Belongs In My City’ Youth Prayer Walk Revisits NYC

Fiery imam invited to speak here

Sydney Morning Herald – December 12, 2012

IT’S billed as the ”largest, the biggest and the best-ever Islamic event in the history of Australia” – a three-day festival for an expected 20,000 Muslims – and it will be held in Melbourne in March.

But the chief attraction is a Saudi imam who has called for violent jihad.

The description above comes from the Australian Islamic Peace Conference Facebook page. It is an extraordinary coup for organiser Waseem Razvi to entice Dr Abdul Rahman al-Sudais who, as the man in charge of Islam’s two holiest mosques in Mecca and Medina, could be considered the world’s foremost imam.

He will be one of many international speakers at the conference – endorsed by the Islamic Council of Victoria, Preston Mosque and leading Muslim groups – in the lead-up to which 1000 local volunteers are being trained to carry out ”dawah” or proselytism for Islam.

But Dr Mark Durie, an Anglican priest, believes Dr al-Sudais should be refused a visa because he has called for the annihilation of the Jews, whom he called the ”scum of humanity”, ”rats of the world”, ”prophet killers” and ”pigs and monkeys”.

Dr Durie, who was an expert witness on the Christian side in the Islamic Council of Victoria case against Catch the Fire Ministries, said that Dr al-Sudais was famous in the Muslim world for his recitations, ”the Pavarotti of the Koran”.

”But he’s not a figure of conciliation and unity, that’s for sure. I’m concerned promoting him in Australia will create a channel of influence for his ideas on Jews and jihad.”

(more…)

Continue ReadingFiery imam invited to speak here

Newham “mega mosque” plans rejected by councillors

Else Kvist Wednesday, December 5, 2012 

Plans for a “mega mosque” in Newham have been turned down by councillors.

Thousands of supporters of the mosque had gathered outside Stratford Old Town Hall ahead of the meeting of Newham Council’s Strategic Development Committee this evening.

A small counter protest against the mosque had also gathered.

The plans to erect the Riverine Centre, also known as Abbey Mills Mosque, were put forward by trustees following the Tabilighi Jamaat movement.

Councilors voted unanimously to turn the plans down, siding with the recommendations of council officers who said the plans should be rejected.

At 29,227sq m the proposed complex was more than three times the floorspace of St Paul’s Cathedral.

(more…)

Continue ReadingNewham “mega mosque” plans rejected by councillors

Another Age newspaper article regarding mosque / Pr Daniel’s radio interview in America / Daily Telegraph – Sydney’s violent wild, wild west

Dear family & friends in Christ, 1) You may click the following link to read another Melbourne Age newspaper article in regard to our opposition (and much of the local…

Continue ReadingAnother Age newspaper article regarding mosque / Pr Daniel’s radio interview in America / Daily Telegraph – Sydney’s violent wild, wild west

Pastor Daniel on Sunrise Program on Channel 7 regarding CTFM & many local residents opposing the building of very large Islamic mosque

Continue ReadingPastor Daniel on Sunrise Program on Channel 7 regarding CTFM & many local residents opposing the building of very large Islamic mosque

Share the faith? Not for this Doveton pastor

Anti-Islam Pastor Daniel Nalliah says his church, Catch the Fire Ministries, is weeks away from building a $2 million church on an industrial lot in Green Stre

THEY call each other brother, but they can’t yet pray as neighbours.et, Doveton.

But he intends to oppose moves to build a mosque next door, promoted by former Afghanistan government minister Khaliq Fazal.

Mr Fazal said the Omar Farooq Mosque, which would include a community centre and car park, would replace the nearby mosque in Photinia Street where the community has met for the past 16 years.

He said that the residential area was now too small to accommodate its 500 worshippers from different countries.

The City of Casey approved plans for the church in July 2011 and planners are now considering the mosque’s application.

Planning manager Duncan Turner said the council would take into account ”local and state planning policy, the impact on industrial land supply, the intensity of the activities, scale of the building and amenity issues such as car parking”.

Deputy mayor Sam Aziz said he wanted to reserve his view for the council debate early next year, but that ”it would be a very sad day in this country if religion was to come into our decision-making”.I suggest you get to know a lot more before you write your story because what you might find will actually horrify you.”Councillor Aziz said ”the perception in the community is that sometimes in these places words are stated and sermons are given that are not necessarily peaceful. ”Do you know much about Islam?

Mr Fazal, 61, a former minister of public works in Afghanistan, is now a consultant and the public face of those supporting the mosque. ”This is a multicultural country and a multi-faith country. There is a Fijian mosque and a church next to each other on Hallam Road and there is no problem whatsoever.”

When he met Pastor Nalliah for the first time on the barren, weedy Green Street lot the two men shook hands and chatted amicably until Pastor Nalliah said: ”We don’t approve of Nazi ideology but that doesn’t mean that we hate the Germans.

”Frankly,” Pastor Nalliah said, ”I don’t think we can live side by with a mosque next to us based on what’s happening in Europe.”

(more…)

Continue ReadingShare the faith? Not for this Doveton pastor

God Is on Your Side

If the Lord had not been on our side when men attacked us … they would have swallowed us alive. … Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. —Psalm 124:2-3, 6

Do you know what it is like to have somebody physically attack you? The trauma is one that, humanly speaking, you don’t overcome easily. Or perhaps you have been verbally attacked. You know the awful feeling when somebody points a finger of blame at you.

The Lord’s people in this psalm were the objects of anger. It is very frightening to be near someone who is angry. Perhaps you live in constant fear of a co-worker’s temper or the angry outbursts of a loved one. You know how it feels to live in a situation from which you wish you could be delivered.

The truth is, your real enemy is the devil. The devil’s work is to cloud your mind. He can come as an angel of light; that means that he will work through someone who has the appearance of being very righteous, a person of integrity, a person who is believable. Or he may come as a roaring lion.

(more…)

Continue ReadingGod Is on Your Side

Study: Americans Don’t Know the Facts About Jesus

10/3/2012 Jennifer LeClaire  Do you know Jesus? Do you really? Following the recent unveiling of a papyrus fragment in which Jesus reportedly says, "my wife," many historians are now questioning…

Continue ReadingStudy: Americans Don’t Know the Facts About Jesus

Egyptian Christian Evangelist Packs Out Westminster

Peter Wooding (Oct 29, 2012) – Source: ASSIST News Service

“I believe that if the Believers unite together in prayer and commitment we could see a great revival. We need to stop running to the hills in white robes, but do everything we can to tell the world about Christ before He returns.” -Dr. Michael Youssef

(London, England)—At a sold out International Evening at Westminster Chapel Saturday October 20, “Leading The Way” Founder and President Dr. Michael Youssef, challenged everyone to urgently occupy themselves with the work of the Lord, before the return of Christ.

“We need to stop running to the hills in white robes, but do everything we can to tell the world about Christ before He returns,” Dr. Youssef told more than 1,000 Leading the Way supporters and listeners at the event which was hosted by Premier Radio.

Travelling straight from Australia where he shared the same message based on Luke 19 where Jesus says ‘Occupy til I come,’ Dr. Youssef’s timely challenge highlighted the dangers of people predicting the times and dates of Christ’s return.

“Just seeing the urgency of the time should not just make us sit there and count the days but really get busy witnessing and serving and getting involved in global evangelism, which is what “Leading The Way” does,” said Dr. Youssef who is set to celebrate 25 years of worldwide Christian ministry.

(more…)

Continue ReadingEgyptian Christian Evangelist Packs Out Westminster

Gay Marriage Push Should Be Abandoned, Say 71 Percent of Britain’s Tory Party Grassroots Members

By Daniel Blake , Christian Post Contributor October 8, 2012

British Prime Minister David Cameron should drop his proposals to redefine marriage, according to a poll of his grassroots Conservative Party members.

The ComRes poll was commissioned by the Coalition for Marriage and found that a massive 71 percent of Conservative constituency chairmen believe Cameron should abandon his aggressive push to amend the definition of marriage of between one man and one woman.

The poll has also found that 47 percent of those polled believed that Cameron’s liberal stance on gay marriage had come at a cost to the party.

Furthermore, more than 70 percent believed that Cameron’s push for same sex marriage regardless of what others felt had damaged the prime minister’s standing in the party. Only 11 percent believed that his liberal agenda had enhanced his reputation within the party.

(more…)

Continue ReadingGay Marriage Push Should Be Abandoned, Say 71 Percent of Britain’s Tory Party Grassroots Members