Monday, September 6, 2010

Know Your Bible; Know Your Qur'an

There are a lot of people wanting me to read the Qur'an. Every time I post something suggesting that not all Muslim are terrorist or that the First Amendment also applies to followers of the Muslim faith or that there really are some secular Muslims, people send me numerous verses from the Qur'an and suggest I read the Qur'an.

I have never read the Qur'an. I have tried. I checked it out of the library one time and read parts of it and skimmed it but it was too boring to read it all. So, I don't know the Qur'an. However, I am pretty familiar with the Bible. I have read or had read to me the Bible from cover to cover twice and have read the Bible at random for many years although I don't read it much anymore.

I am often surprised at how little most people know about the Bible. They may have been attending church their whole life and still not know much Bible. There are some passages in the Bible that are almost never read from the pulpit.
One of the things I noticed about the verses people send me from the Qur'an is that a lot of them sound very familiar to Bible verses.

I thought it might be fun to see if people can pick from a collection of verses those that are from the Qur'an and which are from the Bible. If this was a game show we could call it, "Know Your Bible; Know Your Qur'an."

Some of the verses are a give-away, because they use the term "Allah" or have other obvious clues but many of them are hard to determine. Take the following quiz and see how many you can get correct. The Answers are at the end. Let me know your score.

Know your Bible; Know your Qur'an

Charging interest/usury

(A) Those who charge usury are in the same position as those controlled by the devil's influence. This is because they claim that usury is the same as commerce. However, GOD permits commerce, and prohibits usury. Thus, whoever heeds this commandment from his Lord, and refrains from usury, he may keep his past earnings, and his judgment rests with GOD. As for those who persist in usury, they incur Hell, wherein they abide forever.

(B) If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest.

Murder, rape, and pillage

(C) So they sent twelve thousand warriors to Jabesh-gilead with orders to kill everyone there, including women and children. "This is what you are to do," they said. "Completely destroy all the males and every woman who is not a virgin." Among the residents of Jabesh-gilead they found four hundred young virgins who had never slept with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan.
The Israelite assembly sent a peace delegation to the little remnant of Benjamin who were living at the rock of Rimmon. Then the men of Benjamin returned to their homes, and the four hundred women of Jabesh-gilead who were spared were given to them as wives. But there were not enough women for all of them. The people felt sorry for Benjamin because the LORD had left this gap in the tribes of Israel. So the Israelite leaders asked, "How can we find wives for the few who remain, since all the women of the tribe of Benjamin are dead? There must be heirs for the survivors so that an entire tribe of Israel will not be lost forever. But we cannot give them our own daughters in marriage because we have sworn with a solemn oath that anyone who does this will fall under God's curse."
Then they thought of the annual festival of the LORD held in Shiloh, between Lebonah and Bethel, along the east side of the road that goes from Bethel to Shechem. They told the men of Benjamin who still needed wives, "Go and hide in the vineyards. When the women of Shiloh come out for their dances, rush out from the vineyards, and each of you can take one of them home to be your wife! And when their fathers and brothers come to us in protest, we will tell them, 'Please be understanding. Let them have your daughters, for we didn't find enough wives for them when we destroyed Jabesh-gilead. And you are not guilty of breaking the vow since you did not give your daughters in marriage to them.'"
So the men of Benjamin did as they were told. They kidnapped the women who took part in the celebration and carried them off to the land of their own inheritance. Then they rebuilt their towns and lived in them. So the assembly of Israel departed by tribes and families, and they returned to their own homes.

(D) As you approach a town to attack it, first offer its people terms for peace. If they accept your terms and open the gates to you, then all the people inside will serve you in forced labor. But if they refuse to make peace and prepare to fight, you must attack the town. When the LORD your God hands it over to you, kill every man in the town. But you may keep for yourselves all the women, children, livestock, and other plunder. You may enjoy the spoils of your enemies that the LORD your God has given you.

Rape

(E) If a man is caught in the act of raping a young woman who is not engaged, he must pay fifty pieces of silver to her father. Then he must marry the young woman because he violated her, and he will never be allowed to divorce her.

(F) And forbidden to you are wedded wives of other people except those who have fallen in your hands as prisoners of war . . .

Parents

(G) If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

(H) Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: My Lord! Bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.

(I) Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee,

Kill your enemies

(J) But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

(K) Remember Thy Lord inspired the angels with the message: "I am with you: give firmness to the believers, I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers, Smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger tips of them."

Stone to death

(L) If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, 19 his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. 20 They shall say to the elders, "This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a profligate and a drunkard." 21 Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death."

(M) "If any man takes a wife, and goes in on her, and detests her, and charges her with shameful conduct, and brings a bad name on her, and says, 'I took this woman, and when I came to her I found she was not a virgin..." (Deuteronomy 22:13,14)
"But if ... evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman, then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones..."

Homosexuality

(N) If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

(O) Lot said to his people, "You commit such an abomination; no one
in the world has done it before! "You practice sex with the men,
instead of the women. Indeed, you are a transgressing people."

(P) "Do you have sex with the males, of all the people? "You forsake
the wives that your Lord has created for you! Indeed, you are
transgressing people."

Women and modesty

(Q) Do not be soft in your speech in a way that may excite men to feel an eager desire for you or lust after you, lest in whose heart is malice and is devoid of soundness and rectitude should be excited to feel a desire for you or lust after you.
Do not show or display fineries or ornaments or beauties of your form or countenance that may excite a man’s lust

(R) In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.

Women to be submissive to men

(S) Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Sex Slaves

(T) When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. And if the slave girl's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment.

Genocide

(U) "Go up, my warriors, against the land of Merathaim and against the people of Pekod. Yes, march against Babylon, the land of rebels, a land that I will judge! Pursue, kill, and completely destroy them, as I have commanded you," says the LORD. "Let the battle cry be heard in the land, a shout of great destruction".

(V) When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are about to enter and occupy, he will clear away many nations ahead of you: the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. These seven nations are all more powerful than you. When the LORD your God hands these nations over to you and you conquer them, you must completely destroy them. Make no treaties with them and show them no mercy. Do not intermarry with them, and don't let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters. They will lead your young people away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and he will destroy you.

Alcohol

(W) “You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die,

(X) Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

(Y) "O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan's handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper."

Love

(Z) And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in peace and tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): Verily in that are signs for those who reflect"

(AA) However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Acts of compassion

(BB) "And what will explain to you what the steep path is? It is the freeing of a slave from bondage; or the giving of food in a day of famine to an orphan relative, or to a needy in distress. Then will he be of those who believe, enjoin fortitude and encourage kindness and compassion."
`
Bible: B, C, D, E, G, I, J, L, M, N, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, AA,
Qur'an: A, F, H, K, O, P, Q, Y, Z, BB
How many did you get right?

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Friday, September 3, 2010

Yesterday was a great day for Republicans in Shelby County.

By Georgeann King, on September 2nd, 2010, Midtown Republican Club

The GOP dominated all Shelby County officials sworn into office. We swept in with Mayor, Sheriff, Circuit Court Clerk, Criminal Court Clerk, Juvenile Court Clerk, Probate Court Clerk, County Register, County Clerk and County Trustee. It was a joy to see them all on stage and then to see each being sworn in. The Canon Center was full and the Arlington High School Jazz Ensemble kept everyone’s mood up.

....the most humorous swearing in was Democrat Steve Mulroy. His unusual red tennis shoe type foot apparel seemed a little incongruous with the surroundings. However, when he took the oath from The Honorable John Fowlkes, Jr., for District 5 County Commissioner, parrotting the judge, he went so far as to say “I, state your name” instead of “I, Steve Mulroy.” Maybe the Democrats are a little too willing to follow the party line on every occasion.

Former Mayor Jim Rout was the moderator and offered a personal reminiscence when it came time for Wayne Mashburn to take office.

In politics, it’s good to have a dream and follow it. I hope this swearing in is a sign of things to come, with Republicans continuing to have a major role in the running of our city, county and state. At least that’s my dream. (link)

Comment: Congratulation Shelby County Republicans! Maybe someday we can see the same thing happen in Davidson County.

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Small business endorses Jim Gotto in House District 60

Jim GottoNFIB/Tennessee supports pro-small business candidate in Nov. 2 general election

NASHVILLE, Tenn., September 2, 2010 – The National Federation of Independent Business, Tennessee’s leading small business association, has endorsed Jim Gotto in the race for the open seat in the 60th House District.

The endorsement was made by NFIB/Tennessee SAFE (Save America’s Free Enterprise) Trust, which is comprised exclusively of NFIB members. The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 2. House District 60 includes part of Davidson County, including Donelson, Hermitage and Antioch.

“Jim Gotto is a strong supporter of free enterprise and the clear choice for small business in House District 60,” said Jim Brown, state director of NFIB/Tennessee. “NFIB members support Jim Gotto’s fiscally responsible approach as a metro councilman in Nashville and his emphasis on less red tape and policies that promote job creation.”

Gotto said, “I appreciate the support of NFIB, the Voice of Small Business. NFIB’s membership believes in less government, which is a big part of my track record as a conservative, pro-business councilman. Government needs to be out of the way of entrepreneurs so they can create jobs. I will continue to support our small, family-owned businesses who are the heart and soul of Tennessee’s economy.”

NFIB’s endorsement is critical to the Gotto campaign. Small business owners and their employees vote in high numbers and are known for actively recruiting friends, family members and acquaintances to go to the polls. NFIB has pledged it will activate its grassroots network on behalf of the Gotto campaign. NFIB’s political support is based on the candidates’ positions and records on small business issues.

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Thursday, September 2, 2010

Beth Harwell is only "supporting" Senator Henry; not "endorsing" Senator Henry.

“I’m supporting Sen. Henry,” Beth Harwell said in an interview last week. “He’s excellent to work with, he’s a fiscal conservative and we have a personal friendship.”

I was disappointed when I heard that. I like Senator Henry myself. I have nothing bad to say about him. I wish he had switched parties and ran as a Republican. He probably votes more often with Republicans than Democrats anyway. He is moderately conservative and is a likable guy. However, even a conservative Democrat is still part of the liberal machine. The election of a conservative Democrat tilts the balance of power to the liberal party which is the Democrat Party. The election of even a conservative Democrat insures the election of a Democratic leadership and advances the legislative agenda of the Democrat Party. More Democratic committee chairmen means legislation sponsored by Democrats is more likely to get out of committee. If Democrats control the State Senate then they get a majority on every county election commission across the state. Putting the state in the hands of Democrats also helps set the stage for Democratic victory in national elections helps elect more Democrats by putting redistricting in the hands of the Democrat Party.

I often hear people say they vote for the person not the Party, but voting for a conservative Democrat advances a liberal agenda, just as voting for a liberal Republican advances the conservative agenda.

In the 21st District we have an excellent candidate in the person of Steve Dickerson. He is smart and accomplished and will make a great Senator. It is very disheartening to those of us who work to advance the Party to see elected Republicans fail to support our candidates. It has to be disheartening to the candidates who sacrifice to carry the Republican banner in a Democrat strong hold to see other Republicans endorse their opponent.

Today, Representative Harwell told the Tennessean,“I want to clarify a comment recently reported in an article in The Tennessean. While I expressed admiration for Senator Henry and our wonderful working relationship, my statement was not an endorsement.”

OK. I feel much better. It sure sounded like an endorsement and I am not really sure what the difference is between "supporting" and "endorsing." If Beth cannot endorse the Republican she should say nothing.

I admire and respect and like Senator Henry, however I want to advance the Republican agenda. I live in the 21st Distinct. I will be supporting Steve Dickerson. I will be working for his election, contributing to his campaign and voting for him. Beth, how about saying the same thing? How about endorsing Steve Dickerson?

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David Hall builds strategy in District 5 with little publicity, money

By Chas Sisk • THE TENNESSEAN • September 2, 2010

[Excerpt] But regulators have not taken any enforcement actions against Hall, who has had to make only minor changes to his disclosures to satisfy the FEC.

[Excerpt] Hall and people outside his campaign who have spoken to him say he won through a simple combination of hard work and political savvy. Hall was able to single out Republican voters who would be receptive to his message of shrinking government and promoting Christian values.

[Excerpt] A plan by Hall's children for a "summer camp" in which students would pay $249 a week to work on Nashville political campaigns also has attracted attention.In July, Hall said in a pair of messages to supporters that the Do Hard Things camp had brought nine volunteers to Nashville to work for his campaign. Hall said no campers ever came to Nashville and that a campaign volunteer sent those messages in error.

(Read more)

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Channel 5 raises more questions about the Hall campaign

Just when I thought and hoped that all questions regarding the Hall campaign were answered, more questions emerge.

Candidate Says Campaign Facebook Posts Were 'Mistakes'
by By Phil Williams, Chief Investigative Reporter, News Channel 5, Sep 01, 2010 9:10 PM CDT

(Excerpt) Even more puzzling is how the Halls appeared to set up a sort of political-church camp -- supposedly run by the candidate's children -- to provide teenagers to work on their father's campaign.

Do The Hard Things 2010 was supposedly set up as a political action committee to run something called Camp Nashville. Families would pay to send their kids to a camp whose sessions just happened to kick off during early voting.

Among the camp's schedule:

6 a.m. -- Mandatory Breakfast.
6:15 a.m. -- Mandatory Devotional.
6:30 a.m. -- Depart, in teams, for sign-waving activities.

So how many teens participated? (link)

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Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Pat Robertson's fear mongering on the Murfressboro Mosque: "...the next thing you know, they’re going to be taking over the City Council..."



If you missed the shameful fear mongering on the part of Pat Robertson of the 700 Club, here it is. This is from the August 19th show. The segment on Murfressboro start at the 17 minute mark and goes for nine minutes. Among other things, Pat says that it is probably pretty easy to bribe folks in little towns like Murfressboro. This is interesting to see how Murfressboro is portrayed. With outside agitators like this stirring up the local Christian rednecks, no wonder we are seeing violence.

Below is an excerpt:

It isn’t just religion, just isn’t. Mark my words. If they start bringing thousands of Muslims into that relatively rural area, the next thing you know, they’re going to be taking over the City Council. Then they’re going to be having an ordinance that calls for public prayer 5 times a day. Then they’re going to be having ordinances that there’ll have to be facilities for foot-washing in all the public restrooms, in all the airport facilities, etc, etc. And, before long they’re going to demand, demand, demand, demand, and, little by little, the citizens of Murfreesboro, or whatever little town it is, are going to be cowed by these people. Not to mention their ability to bribe folks. I don’t know whether anybody is getting a pay-off, but it’s entirely possible.


Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess holds his ground in defending Freedom of Religion and says the Mosque was treated like any other similar application and says it is not within his authority to investigate the source of funding for the mosque.

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Join the grassroots campaign for Wine in Grocery stores

If you think it is high time that we stand up to the coalition of Baptist and Liquor lobbyist and be allowed to purchase wine in the grocery store like civilized people, then lend your support to the effort.



Support wine sales in Tennessee retail food stores
www.redwhiteandfood.com


Dear Rod,

You’re receiving this e-mail because you live in the district of a legislator who sits on the influential State & Local Committee. This committee is key to deciding the fate of wine in retail food stores. And we need your help.

25,000 members strong

In the August member e-mail earlier this week, we shared the news that more than 25,000 Tennesseans have shown their support by becoming campaign members.

Experts who run campaigns say they are amazed at the outpouring of unanimous support from consumers for wine in food stores. In case you are wondering, there are very few consumers clamoring to keep the system the same.

And yet?

Despite our success, we haven’t made nearly the progress in the General Assembly that we hoped. That’s very frustrating to everyone involved.

The process of passing legislation is complicated even before you add alcohol into the mix. The foe is very formidable and well financed – and that’s an understatement.

Our legislative sponsor believes the legislation is nearing the peak of ripeness. But it needs one more thing to be just right.

There’s one thing we haven’t done

So far, legislators have heard (loudly!) from you and other members while they are in session in Nashville. But most of them haven’t heard from many constituents while they are campaigning in their districts and away from the legislature.

We are forming a grassroots organization is key legislative districts. You live in one of those key districts.

Representative Mary Pruitt is a member of the influential House State & Local Committee. (Some members will receive a second e-mail because both your Senator and Representative are S&L committee members.) This legislation needs the support of a majority of that committee. The campaign needs your help to get there.

Wine in food stores needs volunteers

What we need are volunteers to be a grassroots team. We would love for you to be part of this effort.

The team’s mission, should you accept, is very simple: Make sure candidates hear from as many their constituents as possible before the election on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Red White and Food will be there to help every step of the way, however you need us. We’ve created a playbook for the team to use. We have some good swag, like fliers and bumper stickers. And we can easily e-mail all the Red White and Food members in your district.

We’re so close to making wine in food stores a reality. And elections are the perfect time to get candidates’ attention.

Are you ready?

Click here to join the grassroots team in your district. The link will automatically put your district in the subject line. Let us know if you are interested in being the team leader for your district. It’s not going to be a hard job, and we’ll give you tons of support.

Thanks for supporting Red White and Food.

A toast to success,

The Red White and Food Team

P.S.

If you’re on Facebook and Twitter, we researched which candidates in the November elections have Facebook and Twitter pages. The entire list, which also includes their campaign website, is on our website at www.redwhiteandfood.com/2010candidates.


Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.
Tell-a-friend!


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State Senator Brian Kelsey endorses Dr. Steve Dickerson 21st District Senate Candidate

Nashville, Tennessee – Today Dr. Steve Dickerson, candidate for the 21st District State Senate seat, received the endorsement of Senator Brian Kelsey. Senator Brian Kelsey represents District 31 covering parts of Shelby County.

Dr. Steve Dickerson released the following statement on the endorsement:

I am proud to have received the endorsement of Senator Brian Kelsey. During Senator Kelsey’s time in the legislature he has been a consistent fighter for limited government and fiscal responsibility. The residents of Shelby County are lucky to have such a strong leader representing them. I look forward to the chance to joining with him in fighting for limited government, fiscal responsibility, and a brighter future for our state.

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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Amend the Metro Charter to Protect Private Property Rights

Jim Gottoby Jim Gotto

One of the unique characteristics of the United States that has set it apart from other countries is the right of individual citizens to own property. Generally referred to as property rights, this freedom that we have has been a significant contributor to successful entrepreneurship and the resulting strong private economy that exists in the United States. We enjoy the highest standard of living in the world, due in no small part to property rights.

One of the enemies to individual property rights is the abuse of eminent domain by the government or its agents. The use of eminent domain should be limited to only those projects that are absolutely necessary for government to fulfill its purposes. The purposes of government have and continue to be a much debated subject. I do not wish to engage in that discussion at this time but I am of the opinion that the delegation of eminent domain decisions to a bureaucratic agency is outside what can reasonably be considered under the umbrella of the purposes of government.

In the past, The Mayor and Metro Council have done just that by legislating redevelopment districts and in that legislation delegated the authority to obtain a private citizens property through condemnation. The agency that has been the beneficiary of this power is the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA). The only restraint placed on MDHA is to determine if the property is “blighted”.

Consider the recent case of Joy Ford. Ms Ford owns a business that is within the footprint of the Gulch Redevelopment District. MDHA through a subjective decision making process declared her property blighted and undertook proceedings to obtain it through eminent domain against Ms Ford’s wishes. The purpose of this property seizure was to pass it on to Lionstone Group, a private developer.

It was only after public pressure was exerted as a result of the involvement of some Metro Council members and the press that MDHA relented and Ms Ford prevailed. However, there was nothing that the Council could do in a timely manner to stop the proceedings because MDHA had been previously granted eminent domain authority through the legislation that established the Gulch Redevelopment District. Had MDHA continued, the final decision would have been up to the courts and I do not believe that eminent domain cases devoid of elected officials’ control on a case by case basis should be settled in this manner.

The only effective way to insure that elected officials in Davidson County retain the absolute authority to make eminent domain decisions is to amend the Metro Charter. An easier course would be to pass legislation to this end. However, any new law could be nullified by future legislation. Amending the Charter to specify that all eminent decisions must come to the Council for a vote on a case by case basis is the only way to preserve the Metro Council’s authority to oversee and protect the property rights of the citizens of Davidson County.

Jim Gotto is a Metro Councilman representing Council District 12. The proposed charter amendment, sponsored by Jim Gotto, to require that all eminent domain decisions must come to the Metro Council for a vote on a case by case basis will be on the November ballot. Gotto is a candidate seeking the District 60 House seat.

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