U.N. Inhumane Wrongs Council

From Mats Tunehag´s blog:
"The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted – yet again – a “defamation of religions” resolution. The text refers to Islam and suggests that it should be forbidden to criticize Islam. The council ought to change its name to United Nations Inhumane Wrongs Council. Human rights are to protect people, not ideas or religious views.

Pakistan – which has a blasphemy law – has been taking a lead, supported by the 56 Muslim countries of the Islamic Conference. These Muslim countries are misusing the U.N. to legitimize blasphemy laws, and thus restricting freedom of speech and religion as well as press freedom.

Approximately 200 Human Rights organisations from 50 countries filed interventions and petitions against this resolution. But the Muslim nations and other dictatorial countries voted for, whereas democratic nations voted against. The oppressive regimes won – freedom of speech lost.
.................
Some Muslims are offended by drawings of the prophet Mohammed, but seemingly find it non-offensive to attack embassies, burn churches, execute those who leave Islam, stone women who have been raped, kill film producers they dislike, or murder in cold blood priests and missionaries just because they reside in Muslim countries. We obviously have different views of what is to be deemed offensive.

I propose that the U.N. Human Rights Council close down - or change its name to U.N. Inhumane Wrongs Council. "

One year with rupeba.se

The first of April, one year ago we started our web-page, rupeba.se, in Swedish. Since then we have had more than 92.000 visits on rupeba.se.

Our English page started the first o January this year, and we are grateful for Sven Ljungholm who is translating the daily devotions into English.

If you have something you want to say, a testimony, a comment on things happening in the Christian sphere, we welcome you as Guest Blogger on our web-page. Send your contribution to info@rupeba.se. Our theological approach on this web-site is evangelical, based on the Lausanne declaration.

If you want to send a greeeting on our one-year-anniversary, please to so in our guest book. (Gästbok)

Peter Baronowsky

Mr Bean worried about free speech in UK

From Mats Tunehag´s blog:
"I have written and spoken for years about the dangerous trend in Europe where freedom of speech is being gradually limited. I am not alone. Rowan Atkinson, more commonly known as Mr Bean, has also expressed similar concerns several times*.

We increasingly witness how especially people engaged in homosexual practices demand freedom from hearing things they disapprove of. Some of these demands have been translated into legislation, sometimes under the rubric “hate crimes”. But even in cases where obviously no law has been broken many Christians have been harassed by law enforcement for expressing their views on homosexual practices.

One cannot have freedom of speech and at the same time guarantee that no-one will ever take offense or disagree. But the flawed concept of “hate crime” and the debate stopping labels “homophobia” (and “islamophobia”) makes it difficult to have an open discussion about present trends of decreasing freedom of speech and religion.

Let me mention seven examples* from just one country in Europe - UK (there are many more cases and countries). These give an indication of a slippery slope sliding down towards denying European citizens basic human rights and freedoms.....

Read more>>

* Mr Bean & the 7 cases

Amazing Grace

Good friends just sent us an e-mail:

This truly is beautiful ! Enjoy !
Amazing Grace performed by El Divo at the Coliseum in Rome, Italy.

Turn up the volume!
Wait for the finale!

Whatever is going on in your life today....this should lift your spirits and inspire you.

Listen here>>

The difference between soldiers and warriors

From the blog "För en tid som denna":
"Anyone who has willingly enlisted to fight against the enemy will tell you there is a difference between being a soldier and a warrior. There are many professional soldiers who take their jobs very seriously and are very good at what they do, but when you meet a warrior, you recognize the difference right away.

Some of the church leadership is about to be transferred from the hands of professional soldiers, to the hands of true warriors, which the soldiers of the cross will all soon become.

Warriors respond to the sound of the battle cry. They do not run from it. Warriors thrive on conflict and danger. Warriors are not discouraged by the oppositions and the troubles they face, but rather come alive when faced with them. This is the makeup of the emerging generation of Christians. Those who think the emerging generation of Christians is soft will be shocked by the warrior nation that is soon to be revealed.

God is a warrior.... These emerging warrior Christians will have the same resolve because they will know who they are, who has sent them, and the power of the kingdom they represent. Like King David’s mighty men, who placed their faith and trust in the Lord of Hosts, their exploits will be known abroad and strike fear into the hearts of the King’s enemies.

As this warrior generation emerges, it will impact and bring transformation to the body of Christ. It will be so profound that churches will start being thought of more as military bases than congregations. Serious training and the sending out of spiritual forces for unprecedented strategic maneuvers will be the order of the day.

This warrior army will not be like the world’s armies, which kill, destroy, and plunder, but it will instead heal, restore, and set free those who are conquered by it. They will not come to take, but to give. The earth has never before seen such an army as the one, which will soon be released upon the earth. The call right now is going forth all over the earth to all those who would be part of it.

This army will strike fear into all who are not a part of it, including many sleeping or deluded Christians. The world has never seen anything like this before. The spirit of Elijah, which was upon John the Baptist to prepare the way for the Lord the first time, is coming upon tens of thousands to prepare for the second coming. Just as all of Judea came out to see John, whole nations will come to hear and be baptized in the Holy Spirit by those who are about to be revealed.

Are you ready to become a warrior in God’s Army? He promises to be with us in all we do. Won’t you take hold of his hand and let him lead you into the Kingdom Age?"

Allen Stark
February 07, 2009

Lent - Stretching Our Souls

From ChristianHistory.net:
"Lent is a time for grave reflection and forgiveness that leads to reconciliation and Christ-centered joy.
What is the purpose of Lent? Why do we celebrate this 40-day season of fasting and prayer that begins this year on February 25 (Ash Wednesday), observes Good Friday on April 10, and concludes triumphantly on Easter Sunday, April 12? Lent is intended to resurrect our joy. Lent originally meant "springtime": the word comes from the Old English word for "spring," lencten, which came from lengan, "to make longer"—reminding us that the slow, wonderful lengthening of this season in our souls can signal an end to a winter of bitterness and the flowering of Christ's love in us.
The spiritual authors below knew the fruits of Bible study and prayer. Though they never saw a YouTube video, Facebook-friended anyone, updated their Twitter status, or stepped on a Wii Fit balance board, they knew how to stay in touch with God, love others, and become spiritually sinewy. Their timeless wisdom can guide us through broadband-jungle days into a season of reflection and reconciliation, through godly sorrow into joy."

Read more>>

Tattoos worse than abortions?

From Mats Tunehag´s blog in "Världen i dag":
In Maryland, USA, a minor can have an abortion without the knowledge and consent of her parents. But if the same child wants to have a tattoo she needs parental permission. What values are surfacing? What do we consider more important?
There was an intense debate in Sweden recently about abortion. Surprisingly, though, the debate centred not on human dignity and the value of life, but on gender. It was revealed that some women chose to have an abortion due to gender of the unborn child, preferring not to give birth to a daughter.
In Sweden it is uncontroversial to have an abortion if the unborn child has a defect (and some say you should). Similarly no-one will question a couple who chose to abort a child because they would rather travel than take care of a newborn. But if you mention gender as a reason in a society preoccupied with gender equality, heaven and hell break loose.
Are image and looks more important than human dignity? Is gender equality more valued and than human life?