Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
5 Problems I have with the Qur'an's denial of the CRUCIFIXION
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Easter is the most important time in the year for Christians, because it is the time when God died on the cross for us to forgive us from our sins, and permit us eternal salvation.
Yet, Islam denies that event in one verse in the Qur'an, Surah 4:157, which states very clearly that Jesus didn’t die, but that someone else did, and he took the place of Jesus on the cross.
I have 5 problems with that denial, which include:
1) Internal Problems: Surah 4:157 is confronted by Surah 19:33 which says, "Bless be me [Jesus] the day I was born, the day I die and the day I rise again". This is not the future, because of S.19:15 (referring to Yaxya) also says the same thing, and he certainly is not coming back in the future. Also, Surah 3:55 & 5:117, using the word ‘Mutawafika’, clearly is referring to the death of Jesus.
2) Theological Problems: Surahs 6:164 and 53:38 both say that no one can take on the guilt of another, and that no one can pay the sin for another, yet what about the man on the cross, wasn't he paying the price of death for Jesus?
3) Historical Problems: Every historical witness says Jesus was on the cross: Greek scholars Thallus and Phlegon (52 AD), Roman historian, Tacitus, mentions that this crucifixion happened under Pontius Pilate, during the reign of Tiberius (33 AD). Or the Jewish historian, Josephus, who clearly mentions the death of Jesus. So we have a Greek, a Roman, and a Jew, all from the 1st and 2nd centuries referring to the crucifixion of Jesus.
4) Eye-witness Problems: John, the disciple of Jesus, who was with Jesus for 3 years was at the foot of the cross. He would have certainly known who was on the cross. Mary, the mother of Jesus was also at the cross. She had known her own son for 33 years. Wouldn't she have known if that man was someone else? And what about the Man on the cross, why would he say "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do", followed by "Into your hands I commend my spirit". Would another man, the wrong man have said those things?
5) Moral Problems: Could Jesus let another man die in his place, and then claim it was he in the upper room three days later to the disciples, or a week later to Thomas? Would God not tell anyone about it for 600 years...and then tell an illiterate Arab the real story? That’s deceitful, and does not represent my God, nor the God of the Bible.
So, this Easter come back to the real God, and the real Jesus and the real crucifixion. He died on the cross for each one of you. All you have to do is accept his death, and give your life to him. It is as simple as that...why don't you come home...
