HEZBOLLAH'S AIM IS TO TAKE POWER IN LEBANON

Source: Compiled by the APN from numerous media reports

The drive for democracy in the Arab world lies buried in the rubble of Beirut. Instead of empowering the millions, it has become the newest weapon in the hands of Islamists and traditional powerbrokers who have no regard for the will of the people. When the Syrians were ousted from Lebanon last year, millions took to the streets to demand change.  At the time, the leader of Lebanon's Druze community, Walid Jumblatt, declared: "When I saw the Iraqi people voting, it was the start of a new Arab world. The Syrian people, the Egyptian people, all say that something is changing. The Berlin Wall has fallen. We can see it."  

It would seem however that even Jumblatt has no interest in real democracy. In recent times he has mounted an emotional defence of the status quo, which he dressed up as a "delicate equilibrium" that had to be protected. Here's how it works in Lebanon. Beirut's modest Governmental Hospital took nine years to complete because of a running brawl among the Christian, Sunni and Shiite sects over which of them would have control of this desperately needed medical centre - that is, who could big-note themselves by allocating jobs at the hospital and be seen to be delivering to "their" people.  

One of the Christian leaders, volunteered this information: "We have six or seven hospitals that have been built and equipped with international funding, but all remain closed because there is no agreement on which sect is to have control of them."  In the Lebanese political process, dissent by any one leader effectively torpedoes any laws, infrastructure projects and social programs. "There has to be unanimity. There are six sect leaders and any one can obstruct legislation and key decisions".

There has not been a census for decades in Lebanon although Muslims are assumed to be in the majority. Seats in the parliament are allocated 50-50 between the Muslim and the Christian communities. Lebanon is 75 per cent urbanised. But to ensure the process is controlled by sect and clan powerbrokers, all have to return to their ancestral villages to cast their ballot. It ties people back to their family and sect and to village politics, which is all family-based. All this is at the wish of the parties - they'll talk about anything except changing this fundamental aspect of the system."

Hezbollah has urged a referendum for an Islamic state in Lebanon and, giving the Shiites' surging birth-rate, it is confident that even a gradual shift to a one-vote, one-value electoral system would put it in a commanding position to achieve its Islamist goal.

The outlawing of Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation is effectively declaring a new civil war.  The Shiites, who are represented by Hezbollah and represent about one-third of the population, are deemed to be terrorists, and that pits them against the other two-thirds who the west sees as not being terrorists.

Even the Sunni Muslims, see trouble in Hezbollah being disarmed. One of its founders, Walid Eido, cautions that Hezbollah is not just a militia but also an essential social organisation in Lebanon. "If we try to disarm it by force there will be an internal struggle and another civil war."

Lebanon now finds itself in the same vat of boiling fat as Iraq and Afghanistan. And in all three it is militias, not politicians, who are shaping the landscape of the people's lives. The experiment to institute Arab-Muslim democracy appears doomed to failure.

LEBANESE CHRISTIANS FACE BIG CHALLENGES

Source: Arab Vision (Representing the Arab Christian Voice)

The Christians of Lebanon are facing significant challenges during these days of intense military activity in their country.

First of all, there is the obvious challenge of staying alive.  For those who lived through the 16 years of Lebanese civil war, these last few weeks have rekindled terrible memories and shattered all hope and dreams of a normal future for their homeland.  "It is catastrophic," writes one church leader. Those who can escape are doing so and quickly.   

This mass exodus posses a second challenge to the Christian community, albeit one whose real impact will be felt more in the future.  Christians were once the dominant majority in Lebanon.  Not any more.  The numbers began to drop during the civil war years and most sources tend to agree that the current figure is likely to be less than 40 per cent of the population.

That percentage is likely to be drop further.  "We have serious concerns that we will witness another heavy wave of emigration," the church leader laments.  The members of his particular Christian community in Southern Lebanon were refugees for 7 years and had only recently returned home.  "Psychologically speaking, we do not see enough emotional strength in our hearts to handle another displacement in Lebanon, and many people are already trying to leave the country for good," the leader adds.  The future looks bleak for the Christians and churches in Lebanon.  Some suggest that up to 70 per cent of the Christians that are still left in Lebanon are ready to leave as soon as Beirut airport reopens. (Editors note: This will have profound implications for Israel in the future as Lebanon becomes another militant Islamic nation on its borders.)

"Most of the people are running out of money and consequently of food," the pastor reports.  Unemployment is rampant, and even those who are employed will probably not get their salaries any time soon. Churches are doing their best to care for their members, but their benevolent funds are running out.

Then there is the challenge of coping with the constant tide of refugees flooding the schools, halls and churches throughout the country.  He continues, "There are thousands and thousands of refugees, but we do not even dare to think of doing something for them because it needs lots and lots of funds to offer such help.  We have the will, but we just do not have the means."

In Beirut itself, many of the churches and Christian schools are trying to act in a positive way to be a help to the swelling population of the city. "It seems we will be working with refugee and poverty issues for some time," one leader reports. His church and school are focusing on a group of around 300 displaced people.  "Some of the needs are basic, like food and bedding," he says. "Some are social, like providing activities for the children, who are bored. Some are health-related concerns."  More and more people are showing up for the daily prayer meeting, which he refers to as "a balm for weary souls."

Emotions are running high.  There is much anger and hatred.  According to another church leader, the biggest challenge is to overcome these feelings with love and forgiveness.  When he was speaking to his congregation during the Sunday service, he asked them to raise their hands stating who they think is responsible for the war, Israel or Hezbollah.  Then he asked thosewho raised their hands to stand up and pray for the side they blamed.  "It is only by love, forgiveness and grace that we can overcome anger, hatred and bitterness towards those who cause us suffering," he preached.

Lebanese Christians are crying out for consolation and hope.  The pastor from the south pleads - "We are in utmost need of encouragement and prayers so that we faithfully hold fast as a witnessing community where we are."  His colleague in Beirut echoes similar sentiments - "Keep praying, especially that we do not become discouraged".

WORLD CUP REPORT FROM GERMANY - A COUNTRY KISSED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD

Source: Private email

Editors note: The following message was received from prayer leaders in Germany in response to their request for prayer during the recent World Cup.

"Our warmest thanks to the praying people from so many different nations for their prayer support during the Soccer World Cup in Germany. God did more than just answer our prayers. He has done "more than we could ask or imagine":

The evangelistic outreaches in many cities saw people coming to Christ in good numbers. For example, 100 alone in Frankfurt. Over 4,000 churches (including 700 Catholic and 2200 Lutheran state churches) had live transmissions of games for public viewing. Christians were excited about the new contact made with unchurched people that these public viewings generated.

Even the secular media reported positively on the Christian outreaches. There was often astonishment but gratitude expressed for the Christians' involvement in the cities. During the cup the Evangelical Alliance sponsored a stage with evangelistic music and talk in front of the main train station. After the World Cup, local media called for this stage to be made permanent, marvelling at the friendly atmosphere filling what was usually an ugly area, and making it an inviting entranceway to the city.

There were 24-7 prayer rooms and intense intercession groups in many towns and cities. Prayer requests from across the country were sent to a prayer camp in Bad Blankenburg, the German headquarters of the Evangelical Alliance. For the first time, Christians from widely varying religious traditions prayed together for an extended time. Many prayer networks across the world and people from all over the world who had come to Germany joined in as well.

God's protection from hooligan violence and terrorist attacks was not just magnificent, it was a miracle: considering the sheer number of fans, hundreds of thousands of whom watched the matches and peacefully celebrated together. Instead of the violent fights that had been predicted, fans of opposing teams hugged each other, celebrated, and generally enjoyed just being together.

But the most impressive thing was that the Lord brought healing to the Germans' wounded souls as regards their national identity. To an extent never before seen, people rejoiced in their own nation, waved flags and sang the national anthem, all without shame and with no trace of the unhealthy pride of which other countries could justifiably have been afraid. The international media rejoiced with and encouraged the German people. Secular newspapers printed personal accounts of people who had a German flag in their hands and sang the German national anthem with tears in their eyes for the first time since the rule of the Nazis. Some of the flags are still flying or hanging; this is unprecedented. One newspaper headline read: "Someone has awakened us with a kiss." Yes, the Spirit of God is doing a new thing in our country.

God also gave our country a willingness to be hospitable and an enjoyment of our guests from many countries, something which is not typical of Germans. This brought healing to many and great joy for the guests, who had no idea how friendly and emotional Germans can be.

The fact that we Germans could celebrate our third-place finish as if it were a victory - when our perfectionism usually drags us down into criticism and frustration - is proof positive that something has changed. That it could happen in the space of four weeks is proof that it could only have been God's work. May God strengthen and increase the change that has started here and see to it that we don't fall back into collective complaining, but share our joy in our God and stop being ashamed of the Gospel.

God used people from many nations (more than 4,000 short-term missionaries) to help us evangelize during this world event. And He used many more to stand in the gap for our country and to take the garment of shame off of our people so that we can rejoice in our country without feeling guilty. This was also an emotional release for an otherwise very reserved society, freeing people to just feel happy.

If the Christians who live in Germany, regardless of what culture or denomination they come from, will continue to allow God's joy to motivate them to actively share the Gospel in unity in word and deed, using their God-given talents and giftings, what God began during the World Cup will be able to continue to grow and thrive.

HOMOSEXUAL TIES TAKING CAR COMPANY DOWNHILL

Source: Agape Press

The latest sales figures for Ford Motor Company in America continue the ongoing story of the company's declining bottom line - a several percentage points drop in sales that the leader of a pro-family group ties in with a boycott and the economy.

Ford in its June report shows the company's total auto sales were down 6.9 percent. Don Wildmon, founder and chairman of the American Family Association (AFA), believes one of the things hurting the auto manufacturer's profit margin is the boycott his organization launched against the automaker this year.

AFA initiated the Ford boycott to protest Ford's affiliation with homosexual and liberal causes. Other organizations and individuals have joined in, and Wildmon believes the pro-family consumer protest is progressively hurting the automotive giant.  

The boycott against Ford was called after company officials reneged on an agreement to stop advertising in homosexual publications, the AFA spokesman notes. He says the sales slump the company is now experiencing is a direct result of its decision to continue promoting a family-unfriendly, pro-homosexual agenda. Of course, the pro-family activist acknowledges that other factors are also having an impact on Ford's declining sales figures, including a difficult economic climate and high gas prices.

Still, he insists, the effect of the pro-family consumers' boycott of the automaker cannot be discounted. "We have over a half a million families who have signed the boycott pledge," Wildmon points out. "These concerned citizens will continue boycotting all Ford products until the automaker stops supporting the homosexual agenda", he says.

FEW MAKE USE OF CIVIL UNION LAWS IN NEW ZEALAND

Source: New Zealand Challenge Weekly

The small number of same-sex couples who have entered into a civil union has surprised the homosexual community in New Zealand and pointed up that the legislation was brought in to satisfy a small vocal minority rather than a real need.

The Civil Union Act has its first anniversary on April 1. In the year since it was passed, only 156 male and 170 female same-sex couples have had a civil union. A further 68 opposite-sex couples have taken up the option. By comparison, some 22,000 marriages have been conducted in the same period.

The 2001 census showed there were 5070 same-sex couples living together in 2001 (0.6 per cent of the number in some form of couple relationship), so only 6 per cent of those have opted for a civil union. The president of the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards, Mike Petrus, says the tiny number of homosexuals who have entered into civil unions since the act was passed proves that legislators were conned by all the hype and rhetoric generated by a tiny group of vociferous homosexual activitists and their supporters.

HORROR IN ERITREA

Source: Intercessors Network

In May 2002, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki closed down all independent evangelical churches and refused to allow their members to meet anywhere for worship. In the days since then, the campaign of oppression has been steadily increasing.

Today, nearly 1,800 Eritrean Christians are in custody because of their religious beliefs. Open Doors' Carl Moeller, describing the prison conditions as 'deplorable', says the persecution has another effect. "The church has to go underground, it has to go unregistered and it has to become a secretive organization where the Scriptures are passed from hand to hand in very covert ways, when gatherings are small and very quietly done, when hymns and songs of praise are whispered instead of sung."  

Moeller says despite the atrocities, persecution and desperate situations, not only is their story not forgotten, but there is also hope. The church, Moeller says, is alive in Eritrea. "The most important thing that the church there asks of us is to 'Remember us in prayer'.