Don’t get me wrong, there are racists at Tea Party rallies that want Obama out simply because he’s black. There will always be people out there that hate others for stupid reasons. However, as a whole, the Tea Party movement came about because people didn’t like the way this country was going (in other words, opposition to big government), and that’s the driving force behind the group to this day.

Jim Wallis is crying racism because it’s a conversation ender. He’s trying to shut up his opponents.

HT: Bare Naked Islam

Focus pulls video urging prayers for rain on Obama
By Mark Barna

Focus on the Family Action pulled a video from its Web site today that asked people to pray for “rain of biblical proportions” during Barack Obama’s Aug. 28 appearance at Invesco Field in Denver to accept the Democratic nomination for president.

Article Continues… (Colorado Springs Gazette)

Honestly, my problem with Focus comes down to this statement in the article:

The video’s point, Shepard said, is that in his view Obama has not clearly stated his stances on abortion and gay marriage, important themes within the Christian right.

I strongly oppose abortion, and while I’m not a fan of gay marriage, I honestly feel it’s none of my business who is sleeping with who. However, my concern is that Focus is teaching the Evangelical sheep* out there that these two issues are the biggest, and that’s simply not the case.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wants nukes.

Our “friends” the Saudis have been given the green lights to move forward with a nuclear plan of their own.

Czar Vladimir Putin has nukes, and is starting something evil over in his part of the world; nobody has the guts to stop him.

But please, let’s keep arguing over gay marriage.

*While it may sound insulting on my part, the blunt truth is that most Americans don’t research the candidates themselves; they look to someone else to tell them how to vote. In a perfect world, pro-Obama media bias wouldn’t matter, as everyone would actually know what each candidate stood for behind the facade.

German Christian student at Hebrew U. deported for ‘missionary work’
By ICEJ News

Israel’s Interior Ministry has scheduled for Barbara Ludwig, a 32-year old German Christian enrolled for studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, to be deported on Friday after being arrested in late April by immigration police for alleged missionizing.

Article Continues… (ICEJ)

I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about missionizing, as:

1) Christianity is a missionary religion.

2) It seems the primary way most Christians spread their faith is through deception and shallow relationships; almost caring more about adding another number to the flock than about the actual person.

However, and this article may be a little slanted based on the source, it doesn’t look like this woman is guilty of missionary work. It seems she’s being targeted for the circles she runs in, with an alternate reason for deportation being tacked on after the fact. In addition, if I understand correctly, missionary work isn’t illegal in Israel.

At the end of the day Israel is allowed to keep and deport whomever they want, but it still looks like this lady is getting unfair treatment due to her religion.

n January 2006, when Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon had a stroke, permanently incapacitating him, the American evangelical leader Pat Robertson attributed Sharon’s medical condition to divine intervention resulting from Sharon’s withdrawal from Gaza a few months earlier.

Full Article (DanielPipes.org)

I have no idea if Robertson is right, as I’m no prophet and definitely not qualified to speak for God. Nonetheless, it’s an interesting topic.

Prominent evangelical Christian organizations based in Israel are facing legal hurdles in obtaining long-term visas for their permanent staff to remain in the country, hampering their day-to-day activity, Israeli and organization officials said Monday.

The sticky legal issue, which comes at a time of burgeoning support for Israel in the evangelical Christian world, is under negotiation with the Interior Ministry.

Full Article (Jerusalem Post)

I hope this can be sorted out. I have enough knowledge of at least two of these organizations to be able to say proselytizing isn’t even a minor focus of either group. It’s an unfounded claim.

Now can one be a Zionist and tackle this topic? I guess I’ll find out!

I am curious, why don’t you mention the persecution of Christian arabs at the hands of the PA? Further, why don’t you advocate measures to help these Christians–a struggling people in the Land of Israel?

I happen to be a christian Arab (lebanese) and I believe it is our destiny not to levae this region–we are an ancient community from biblical times. Why isn’t there a single peep from you on your page about us? We feel abandoned by our brothers and sisters in the US and Europe, no one speaks for us. You are busy speaking for Israel, but why arent evangelicals also getting the message out as loudly about us?

Pray for us. I don’t want us to become a museum of a former and lost civilization.

We are from the land of Jesus, and we will never be eradicated by Islam.

My response pointed out that, while I don’t mention it as a focus, I do cover those stories when I come across them. This does get me thinking…

1) Are Palestinian Christians (or any Christians in that pert of the world) ignored by American Evangelicals in favor of supporting Israel?

2) If so, why must one be chosen over the other?

I’m considering a third blog project focusing on Christians in the Middle East. However, since I know very little about them, I’d probably need a few contributors before moving forward.

Muslims Against Sharia

(IsraelNN.com) The Olmert government voted to release 90 PA terrorist prisoners Sunday morning as a Ramadan gesture to PA/Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas. The precise list of the terrorists to be set free will be set this afternoon (Sunday) by a special ministerial committee.

The decision was immediately attacked, even from within the government. Transportation Minister Sha’ul Mofaz – a former Defense Minister and IDF Chief of Staff – said, “We are working against terrorism and paying a price for the existence of terrorism – and despite this we make [these] gestures… This is the mark of a weak government. We received nothing in return for freeing 256 prisoners [two months ago], and we will receive nothing in return this time as well.”

Full Article (Arutz Sheva)

I often wonder if Olmert has been paying attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the years, as anyone who has could tell you this is a bad idea.

see also: Exclusive interview – Fatah Officials Respond To Planned Prisoner Release (infolive.tv)