Thorntown Christian Church exists to worship God, share Christ with everyone          February 2012

               we meet, teach the saved, and be a loving friend to our neighbor.                                

Family Valentine’s Luncheon – Feb. 12^th 

   You are invited to a time of good fellowship and good food on Sunday, Feb. 12^th, following worship. This is for the whole family with a free-will offering taken.  Call Gene and Peggy for further info at 436-7167.

Tax Returns

   If you need a statement of giving for your 2011 tax return, please contact Koren Gray.

January Serving Schedule

Elders: 

                         Feb.   5    Mel & Jack

                        Feb. 12    Cynthia & Gary

                        Feb. 19    John & Mel      

                         Feb. 26    Donna & Don  

Deacons:

Feb.   5     Star, Kayla, Sharon, Josh

Feb. 12    Pat, Kent, Kay, Tammy

Feb. 19    Joann, Caitlin, Sue, Roberta

Feb. 26    Kathy, Miriah, Matt, Patti

Communion Preparation:  

                        Gene & Peggy

Greeters:      

                        Feb.   5    Virginia & Jack

                        Feb. 12    Stephanie & Family

                        Feb. 19    Jane & Tammy

                        Feb. 26    Teddi & Kayla

Nursery:       

                        Feb.   5    Stephanie

                        Feb. 12    Teddi

                        Feb. 19    Caren

                        Feb. 26    Caitlin 

Acolytes:      

                        Feb.   5    Kyle                   

                        Feb. 12    Wyatt  

                        Feb. 19    Adam                

                        Feb. 26    Wyatt  

Song Leader: Feb.   5    Jane

                        Feb. 12    Jane

                        Feb. 19    Josh

                        Feb. 26    Josh

Women’s Sharing 

   All women are invited to a time of fellowship at my home, Tues., Feb. 7^th , from 6-7 p.m. Let’s share what God is doing for us!                 

~Kay

Sympathy

    Our sympathy to the family and friends of:                 Betty Jean Nelson

Barb Myers

    May God give them comfort and peace.

February Birthdays

      1   David Jones

      3   Gene           

      3  Benjamin

      4   Teresa

      5   Carolyn

    11  Pat

    13  David

    16  Chris

    19  Eric        

   19  Marsha

    21  Kevin

    22  Dennis

    25  Gary

February Anniversaries

    14  Bob & Pat

    14  Doug & Patti

    14  Paul & Sue

    24  Jack & Virginia

Choir Practice Sundays at 4:00 P.M.

    The choir is beginning its practices for the Easter Cantata, “I Know My Redeemer Lives,” which will be performed April 8^th, Sunday afternoon’s at 4:00 p.m.  Any who wish to participate are welcome.  Contact Cynthia Merrill for more information.                          

Living for Him   

    Last month I wrote of how Islam is not a religion of peace; it literally means “submission.”  Its Koran is highly contradictory despite the fact that it was dictated by one man.  It has a belief called Taqqiya in which it is okay to lie in the service of Islam.  It has never sent out missionaries to demonstrate a better way of life, but rather armies. I also stated that the Crusades were responses to the atrocities committed by adherents.

    Islam is a set of rules that define a social hierarchy in which Muslims submit to Allah, women submit to men and all non-Muslims submit to Islamic rule.  This rule is subsumed under Sharia law.

    Under Sharia women may be killed (so-called honor killings) for bringing shame upon their families which can include improper covering of the body, appearing in public without a male relative chaperone, talking to an unrelated male, or exhibiting independence in thought and action. An honor killing can also be based on hearsay or gossip. If an adult girl (9 years and older) is raped by an adult man, she will be considered at fault because she was careless and provoked the attack. Her parents will be expected to severely punish or kill her for dishonoring her family.

    Slavery is an accepted part of Islamic society and is never viewed in a negative way in the Koran, Sira or Hadith. In fact, it is a God-given right for Muslims to have slaves. [Sura 6:7]

    Although Islam has sustained slavery for 1400 years, a Muslim may never be enslaved. Only non-believers may be enslaved and may be eligible for freedom upon conversion to Islam at the discretion of their master. Slavery is viewed as a moral good in Islam as it transforms a kafir (non-believer) into a believer.

    Slaves have no means for legal action in Islam and their rights are based solely on the good will of their master. If a slave flees his master, this is viewed as a sin against Allah.

    Slaves have few civil or legal rights. The following are rules pertaining to slavery from the Sharia:

1) Muslim men may have sex with female slaves at any time and it is not possible to “rape” a slave.

2) Slaves have the same status as animals and it is permissible to whip them.

3) No Muslim can be put to death for murdering a slave.

4) A slave’s testimony is inadmissible in court.

5) Slaves can be forced to marry whomever their mas-ter chooses and may not choose their marriage mate.

6) Christians and Jews who do not pay the jizya or protection tax can be enslaved.

    In his book, Christian Slaves, Muslim Masters, historian Robert Davis estimates that North African Muslims abducted and enslaved more than 1 million white Christian Europeans from Sicily to Cornwall between 1530 and 1780. Muslim slavers also seized people from Britain, Ireland, Iceland and even American seaman on ships in the Atlantic.

    In a recent case of Muslim slavery in the United States, Sarah Khonaizan and her husband Homaidan Al-Turki were arrested for forced labor, sexual abuse and harboring an alien for enslaving an Indonesian housekeeper in their home in Colorado. The couple reportedly brought the housekeeper to Colorado from Saudi Arabia to care for their children and to cook and clean for the family. The Indonesian woman slept on the basement floor  and was the victim of rape.

    Al-Turki and his defense attorney complained that they were being persecuted for their beliefs and stated, "The state has criminalized these basic Muslim behaviors. Attacking traditional Muslim behaviors was the focal point of the prosecution." Al-Turki received letters of support from the local Muslim community and from his academic colleagues at the University of Colorado. This case continues to arouse strong feelings in Saudi Arabia where there is great sympathy and support for Al-Turki. On March 26, 2008, a high level Saudi official brought up the case in a meeting with Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff. He urged Americans to review the case and mentioned the strong support for Al-Turki in Saudi Arabia.

    Many examples of the societal differences of Sharia law and our own are available, but instead I’ll illustrate some differences between Islam and Christianity.

    We are commanded by our God to ‘love our neigh-bors’ and pray for our enemies. Islam says “eradicate (destroy) your neighbor” unless they convert.

    Islam says you cannot know you are going to Heaven. In Islam a man must observe the Five Pillars of his religion to be saved, and hopefully when he dies Allah will let him into heaven. Our Bible teaches that we can know salvation for certain.  Whoever has the Son has life, but whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write this letter to you who believe in the Son of God so you will know you have eternal life. (1 John 5:12-13 NCV)

    The Muslim heaven is a place of eternal self-indul-gence and pleasure. Christian heaven is a place where God’s people enjoy a restored relationship with Him.

    Islam strongly denies that Jesus is God’s Son. The Koran states, “God is but one God. God forbid that He should have a son!” (Sura 4:171). Jesus repeatedly claimed to be the Son of God. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. (1 John 2:23 NIV)

    Muslims’ Allah is not a god of love. Yet our Bible says the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. (1 John 4:14-16 NIV)

    Since Muslims (indeed all of humanity) are created in the image of God and Christ died while all were yet sinners, we need to join God in calling others into God’s saving grace. Therefore when dealing with Muslims (and others) be courteous and loving, be acquainted with their basic beliefs, yet stick to the main doctrines of the Christian faith (take time to respond to all sincere questions) while pointing out the person and work of Jesus Christ for salvation.

   Let them know that because of Jesus, His death and resurrection, they will be saved, upon acceptance of that free gift, for all eternity (see 1 John 5:13) for Christ’s salvation is a gift which need not be earned.

    I may be accused of being prejudiced concerning Islam, but I want to assure you that I am not. Prejudice (in this case) is a bias or predisposition before a matter is considered or a preconceived opinion not based on reason or experience. I have studied this matter and thought it through carefully before coming to my conclusions.  Some will still consider my thoughts to be prejudicial, but that is a result of their own preconcep-tions and not mine.

    May the God of love, the Son, and the Holy Spirit bless you!                                                                  ~Glen