Shalom,

I don't want to interrupt (y)our calm lifes, but I really think at least we as christians should do something about it. Yahushua would want us to help the opressed, fatherless and those in need. There are many of such people in Sudan, Darfur, where people are experiencing genocide and those who are on leading positions ofcourse don't do much - since it doesn't bring any money. Now we can not do so much - I understand - but we can join forces and pray about it. Or send some money if you have any extra. That is sad. I feel helpless and ashamed to be a human living on this planet who has to see such corruption and injustice going on while nothing is done - and could be done so easily. Yahweh's kingdom is near and it is said that much evil will happen before Yahuhsua returns. But still - consider these things and remember these people in your prayers. They need them.
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[This message has been edited by polona (edited 09-25-2007).]

I agree..Samartians purse does alot of good work in Sudan, especially Durfar.

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Shalom! Shalom, I wish you all the blessings of shalom!

Having personally asked them and been shocked by their answer(s), several churches in tulsa oklahoma Officially, (not individual persons perhaps), have CLOSED THE DOOR ON THE POOR - They will spend 120,000 on a building or "show off" trip to russia (that corrupts the youth and hurts the families there, according to martyrs letter from russia to the usa)...

None, not one, of the churches in tulsa oklahoma that I asked if they [would] take in the poor said they would, but rather gave usually a one sentence excuse not to -
"insurance won't cover it"
"they'll become dependant on us"
"if we help one we'd have to help them all, and we can't help them all"
"they don't need help: they're lazy, let them get a job"
"that's not how we do things ! "
"the Bible doesn't say to give them help"
"if they have faith, god(sic, that church god whoever it is) will help them"

Yet here is Yhwh's simple instructions:
(bring other translations at Yhwh's Pleasure)-
From: "Matthew 10 (The Message)
The Message (MSG)

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
[The Message at Navpress] [NavPress]

Matthew 10
The Twelve Harvest Hands
1-4 The prayer was no sooner prayed than it was answered. Jesus called twelve of his followers and sent them into the ripe fields. He gave them power to kick out the evil spirits and to tenderly care for the bruised and hurt lives. This is the list of the twelve he sent:

Simon (they called him Peter, or "Rock"),
Andrew, his brother,
James, Zebedee's son,
John, his brother,
Philip,
Bartholomew,
Thomas,
Matthew, the tax man,
James, son of Alphaeus,
Thaddaeus,
Simon, the Canaanite,
Judas Iscariot (who later turned on him).

5-8Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge:

"Don't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.

9-10"Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light.

11"When you enter a town or village, don't insist on staying in a luxury inn. Get a modest place with some modest people, and be content there until you leave.

12-15"When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting. If they welcome you, be gentle in your conversation. If they don't welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they'll be mighty sorry—but it's no concern of yours now.

16"Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.

17-20"Don't be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation—just because you believe in me. Don't be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they've done you—and me—a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! And don't worry about what you'll say or how you'll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words.

21-23"When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don't quit. Don't cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you've run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.

24-25"A student doesn't get a better desk than her teacher. A laborer doesn't make more money than his boss. Be content—pleased, even—when you, my students, my harvest hands, get the same treatment I get. If they call me, the Master, 'Dungface,' what can the workers expect?

26-27"Don't be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone will know how things really are. So don't hesitate to go public now.

28"Don't be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.
Forget About Yourself
29-31"What's the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don't be intimidated by all this bully talk. You're worth more than a million canaries.

32-33"Stand up for me against world opinion and I'll stand up for you before my Father in heaven. If you turn tail and run, do you think I'll cover for you?

34-37"Don't think I've come to make life cozy. I've come to cut—make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law—cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God. Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies. If you prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don't deserve me.

38-39"If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me.

40-42"We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God's messenger. Accepting someone's help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I've called you into, but don't be overwhelmed by it. It's best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won't lose out on a thing." "

That was interesting.. it is sad that what you wrote about that church in Oklahoma... but remember how sad it will be when Yahushua tells them: "I was hungry and you didn't feed me, i was naked and you didn't give me clothes..."

I will just quote slovenian president here. He was challenged by a journalist who looked at him cynically and said "was it realistic to expect that a small country in central europe (SLovenia) could solve the crisis of Darfur?" and the president said: "Was it realistic to expect that big countries would do anything?" So we know that no matter how one would like to believe that leaders of most countries do for people and want to do something good - i really doubt it. This same president once admitted - if they truly wanted a good world, they'd sit together and we'd have it in 4 months. I think it's true. But that won't happen until Yahushua comes. However, until then - we have to think of those who suffer because of evil of those who are stronger than them. Now not spiritually stronger, these people still have remained humans, whereas i don't think those who could help and don't have remained such. Seeing such evil and doing nothing - with all the power they could use - is something that makes me pretty much despise everything else they do or try to do. That's leaving the "righteous" Babylon I guess...