faith – Page 443 – Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment.

Update on the Earthquake in Nepal from Christian Missionaries.

The “Divine Mountain” rumbled again in Nepal. Yet, God is at work in even the most tragic events. This is a report from two Christian Missionaries in Nepal and their factual assessment of the situation, with pictures.

Earthquake Report from Nepal
April 25, 2015
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Many of you know that we live in Nepal and have been contacting us about the earthquake, so we are sending this report tonight.

We are fine and our church building in Kathmandu is alright, and as far as we know so far, all of the believers that we are associated with are fine.

The epicenter was 50 miles away, but it was a powerful shaking. You couldn’t stand or walk or run. You could only fall, and the major shocks lasted a long time. Aftershocks have been coming all day and into the night, and thousands of people are sleeping outside to stay away from the buildings.

Here in the city, most structures survived, though a great number are probably structurally damaged, but there still were many deaths. I took the attached pictures this afternoon. The dead bodies were laid outside at a nearby hospital, and there were many more in that one place. Triage units were set up on many of the hospital grounds. A 200-year-old tower downtown fell, killing at least 40 people. The cracked road is by the airport.

I took the photo of the burning bodies tonight.

The worse devastation is in the villages. In Garigau, three hours away, our church building and many believer’s houses were destroyed. The home villages of our main two preachers here, Dorje and Dipak, were largely destroyed. But we won’t get the full picture for a few days.

The electricity and main road to Kathmandu has been cut, and we don’t know how long it will be before it will be restored.

In Christ,
David and Linda Cloud

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Earthquake Report from Nepal – Update
April 28, 2015
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Hello Friends:

We appreciate your prayers and concerns in regard to the earthquake. The official death toll has passed 4,000, but I am convinced the true number is triple that.

For the record, Kathmandu survived the quake largely intact. It was mostly the very old buildings and temples that collapsed. The roads are open. The airport is operating 24/7. There is electricity.

In Kathmandu Valley, the greatest devastation is in Bhaktapur, an old city that was formerly the capital of one of the three ancient kingdoms in the valley. I visited there a couple of days ago and I would estimate that 20% of the buildings are totally ruined and 70% or more should be condemned and torn down. Beyond the valley north and west, the villages are devastated throughout central Nepal. Some are estimating that 70% of the houses collapsed in this heavily populated region, but in many places it is 100%. The Nepali army is 90% mobilized for rescue efforts and foreign help is arriving daily.

I don’t know what the longterm situation will be as far as food goes. People will probably be pouring into the city from the villages. Clean water is scarce already.

One thing you could pray for is the situation at Nepal’s only international airport here in Kathmandu. It is pathetically small with only one runway and limited parking space for planes. It was already seriously overtaxed with regular traffic because of Nepal’s heavy tourist trade and the massive number of Nepalis that work overseas, and the runway has long been in need of repair. If it breaks down, how do you repair or replace a single runway that you need to bring regular and aid flights in and out every few minutes?

The aftershocks have died down since the first two days, but they still come at infrequent times; therefore, many people are still afraid to return to their houses and are sleeping outside under tents and tarps though it has been raining every day. Many photos and videos of this have been published on the Internet, but for the most part these are not homeless people. They are simply afraid to return to their houses, though they are structurally sound. About 100 people slept in the church compound two nights ago, including a Hindu priest and his extended family. His sons are taking the gospel correspondence course. The Hindus have expressed gratitude to the church for welcoming them.

Attached is a photo of some of the people staying at the church compound. Linda is in the foreground. She has been able to have good conversations with many unbelievers who have been shaken by this event.

Some of the Bible School students are in villages trying to help their relatives. The rest have been helping the people staying at the compound, and they are getting worn down. Hopefully the people will go home soon. Our small facilities are overtaxed.

FEARS, RUMORS, AND GOD’S PROMISES

Aftershocks come in all varieties, from sharp, shocking jolts to barely discernible rockings and vibrations. Sometimes one is not certain if it is real or imaginary. There is no telling how long these will last.

Rumors fly at the speed of light, keeping the people stirred up and fearful beyond reason: “a big one will hit at midnight”; “they are expecting a 10 point quake…..”

Chicken Little is having a field day.

Meanwhile, for the believer every trial is an occasion to find fresh comfort and help and instruction in the Lord Jesus Christ, the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity and is ever ready to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Some of the Hindus have remarked at how much peace the Christians have in the midst of this terrible trial. Other Christians, though, have displayed more fear and uncertainty than is befitting a child of God. The believer must control his emotions and not allow himself to be controlled by the rumors and fears of those who have no hope. See Isaiah 8:12-14 and Psalm 91:1-6. In Psalm 42, David wisely instructed his own soul with God’s Word. This is how to use the shield of faith to quench the devil’s fiery darts of unbelief.

RELIEF HELP

We are trying to do what we can to help the people in the villages where we have Bible studies.

Today we are spending $5000 to purchase large bags of rice and other staples for each family in three villages three and four hours from the city, a total of about 300 families. Christian charity is hindered here by many cultural issues that are difficult for outsiders to understand, one being that if we only help the believers, the Hindus will charge them with being “rice Christians.”

We are prioritizing the construction of the church building in Gairigau. We plan to increase the seating capacity significantly and add a room for Sunday School. We are trying to order the construction materials this week while things are still readily available. The believers can possibly use the new church for living quarters while they rebuild their homes.

Many have asked what they can do. If you want to send gifts to help with the relief efforts, you are welcome to do so.

Again, the main thing you can do is pray that God will send a spiritual shaking to the hearts of the people that will be even greater than the physical shaking.

In Christ,
David and Linda Cloud

Hillary Clinton as spiritual head? A Limerick.

“In a June 2014 New York Times Sunday Book Review, the newspaper asked Hillary Clinton a series of literature-based questions. One of the inquiries sought to determine the one book that made her who she is today.

“‘At the risk of appearing predictable,” she responded, ‘the Bible was and remains the biggest influence on my thinking.”

Clinton noted that she was “raised reading it” and had memorized many of its passages. She contended that the Bible has guided her throughout her life.

“‘I still find it a source of wisdom, comfort and encouragement,’ she concluded.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton took a feminist tone on Apr 23.She told attendees at the sixth annual Women in The World Summit:

“Far too many women are denied access to reproductive health care and safe childbirth, and laws don’t count for much if they’re not enforced. Rights have to exist in practice — not just on paper,” …

“Laws have to be backed up with resources and political will,And deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed. As I have said and as I believe, the advancement of the full participation of women and girls in every aspect of their societies is the great unfinished business of the 21st century and not just for women but for everyone — and not just in far away countries but right here in the United States.”

Which brings us to a Limerick:

Will Hillary be our Mullah

with treachery just like Delilah?

With her Bible as guide

takes us all for a ride.

But babies are precious, not moolah.

Ode to Hillary Clinton. A song.

Hillary Clinton, a quaint graying lady,

In dealing with issues she always was shady.

From Watergate’s hearings to Whitewater’s loss

She always was aiming for that double-cross.

Then trading in futures by using a front-man,

and “suicide” Foster as FBI point-man.

The Travelgate failure, she thought they would fold,

The Rose Law Firm docket, her lies were so bold.

And then there were scandals, too many to mention,

Her husband did somehow escape her attention.

With Monica, Gennifer, Paula, Kathleen.

She said she believed him, the truth left unseen.

. left: Gennifer Flowers

.middle: Paula Jones

.right: Monica Lewinsky

.far right: Kathleen Willey

She lied through her teeth about deaths in Benghazi.

Obama and Rice truthful? – Not even quasi.

The cause was a video, that’s what they said.

We now know for sure that we all have been had.

But wait!, There is more, there is that e-mail server,

wiped clean of all evidence, congress won’t serve her.

dishonest and treacherous, that is her name:

She wants to be President, her claim to fame!

And then there is graft-ridden Clinton Foundation,

and sell our Uranium for a donation.

And millions in speaking fees, Clintons got rich!

Crony Capitalists! Speaking of which. – Or is it witch?

(Hillary Clinton will serve as a keynote speaker at the Cyber Defense Summit 2019)

As Cybersecurity expert in making,

She still is supreme in sincerity faking.

For she was not a sloth,

no, she wiped with a cloth

her server, top secrets for hackers free taking.

It is guessed that her unsecured e-mail server had been accessed by at least five foreign entities, we will never find out who, since the server had been wiped clean using BleachBit after the server had been requested to be preserved for evidence of potential hacking.

Verse 39 of the Obama Impeachment song? What framework?

Verse 39 of the Obama Impeachment song. (As if sung by Obama to the tune of “Please release me. let me go”).

All my “facts” are lies and spin

the Mullahs said with gleeful grin.

In this pact Islamists win,

my treasonous acts will do me in.

Here are a few samples of responses from Iran:

“The solutions are good for all, as they stand. There is no need to spin using ‘fact sheets’ so early on,” tweeted Iran’s foreign minister, Javad Zarif.
“In the framework of the agreement, none of Iran’s nuclear facilities as well as the previous activities will be stopped, shut down or suspended and Iran’s nuclear activities in all its nuclear facilities including Natanz, Fordow, Isfahan and Arak will continue,” said an Iranian state-run Press TV report.

Iranian media also reported that all of the UN Security Council, United States, and European Union sanctions against the regime will be lifted immediately, once the Joint Plan of Action has been implemented.

The complete Obama Impeachment song.

Verse 38 of the Obama Impeachment song. The sell-out of Israel.

Verse 38 of the Obama Impeachment song. (As if sung by Obama to the tune of “Please release me, let me go”)

Iran won, I showed my hand;

Their non-negotiable demand:

“Blast away the promised land.”

The “final solution” is at hand.

The Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu expressed the “deal” best:

The complete song: https://lenbilen.com/2015/02/25/the-complete-obama-impeachment-song/

Verse 37 of the Obama impeachment song: Obama’s Jihad against the Jews.

Verse 37 of the Obama impeachment song: Obama’s Jihad against the Jews. (As if sung by Obama to the tune of “Please release me, let me go”).

My Jihad against the Jews:

I gave their secrets to the news.

Jarrett gives me all my clues

So try to impeach; what’s your excuse?

News by Ari Yashar, Matt Wanderman, Israel National News, 3/25/2015

In a development that has largely been missed by mainstream media, the Pentagon early last month quietly declassified a Department of Defense top-secret document detailing Israel’s nuclear program, a highly covert topic that Israel has never formally announced to avoid a regional nuclear arms race, and which the US until now has respected by remaining silent.

But by publishing the declassified document from 1987, the US reportedly breached the silent agreement to keep quiet on Israel’s nuclear powers for the first time ever, detailing the nuclear program in great depth.

The complete Obama impeachment song: https://lenbilen.com/2015/02/25/the-complete-obama-impeachment-song/

Verse 36 of the Obama impeachment song: Obama cannot congratulate Netanyahu on his election victory.

(As if sung by President Obama to the tune of “Please release me, let me go”).

Netanyahu got my bile.

Congratulate is not my style.

Sorest loser in a while,

I won’t even try to reconcile.

Prime Ministers Harper of Canada, Cameron of Great Britain and Modi of India has already congratulated Benyamin Netanyahu to his significant victory, yet Obama is silent. Why?

Update: Obama is silent no more. When Barack Obama called Benjamin Netanyahu, it was not to congratulate him. They spoke for 30 minutes.
Barack Obama insisted that Benjamin Netanyahu remove his ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer. Netanyahu said he would not. Obama pressed the case. Netanyahu said he will not.
Obama attacked Netanyahu, he said, for the last days of the campaign when he called out the Arabs. And he attacked Netanyahu for his statements about the two state solution.
Unfortunately, Netanyahu’s position is that he still supports a two-state solution. However he said as long as that other state is committed to Israel’s demise, as long as they won’t disarm, as long as they will not recognize Israel as a Jewish state, how can there be a two state solution? As I say, the two-state solution would be a final solution.
And so it was a disrespectful, rude conversation on Obama’s part, not a congratulatory ‘oh you won’.

The complete Obama Impeachment song: https://lenbilen.com/2015/02/25/the-complete-obama-impeachment-song/

Verse 33 of the Obama Impeachment song: 340 million for Obamacare Music videos

Item: Michael Jackson and his sister, pop princess Janet, spent more than $10 million on the music video for “Scream”.

Pop queen Madonna holds spots two, three and four in the top five list. She spent more than $20 million on the three videos, including $9.4 million for “Express Yourself.”

Obama’s spending on Music Videos for Obamacare? 340 million and rising.

Never heard any of them? You are not missing anything of staggering intellect. Here is a sample:

We fly with our own wings. Care about the same things. We stand strong together. So let me hear you say. We fly with our own wings. Dreamin’ all the big dreams. Long live Oregonians; we’re free to be healthy. Long live Oregonians; we’re free to be healthy.

I would have added the u-tube video of the song here, it is up on u-tube, but in the best traditions of transparency of this administration, this tax-payer funded video’s activity has been set to “private’.

Which bring us to verse 33 of the Obama Impeachment song.

Waste and fraud: Obamacare

My Music Videos to share

No expenses did I spare

Spent Millions, impeach me if you dare.

Verse 32 of the Obama Impeachment song: “I found out through the news”

Maybe Obama never listens to anything people tell him?

Verse 32 of the Obama Impeachment song: “I found out through the news”

(as if sung by President Obama to the tune of “Please release me, let me go”.

Twenty years in Wright’s Church pews;

I never listened to his views.

Found out everything through news.

I”m hopeless, this is my best excuse.

(The complete Obama impeachment song: https://lenbilen.com/2015/02/25/the-complete-obama-impeachment-song/ )

Some examples:

An Air Force One plane (not carrying the president at the time) made an unannounced pass over the Statue of Liberty on April 27, 2009, It turned out to be a White House-approved photo op, but panicked New Yorkers feared it might be some sort of terrorist attack. The next day, President Obama told reporters,

“It was something that, uh, we found out about, uh, along with all of you.”
On Fast and furious scandal:

“I heard on the news about this story, that, uh, Fast and Furious.”

For good measure, Attorney General Eric Holder—who had been sent regular briefings on Fast and Furious, a case approved by his criminal division—also said he was clueless about the case.

In May of 2013, a reporter asked the president: “When did you first learn that the IRS was targeting conservative political groups?”

Obama answered: “I first learned about it from the same news reports that I think most people learned about this. I think it was on Friday.”

When it became public that the Obama administration had secretly seized phone records of AP news reporters, the White House said President Obama hadn’t known about it.

Obama spokesman Jay Carney told reporters in May of 2013,

“We don’t have any independent knowledge of that, [President Obama] found out about the news reports uh yesterday on the road.”

President Obama said he had no idea his government was spying on foreign leaders as outlined in an Inspector’s General report—until it was leaked to the news. On Oct. 28, 2013 he said,

“I can assure you that I certainly did not know anything about the IG report before the IG report had been leaked through the press.”

In May of 2014, White House spokesman Carney said that the President was clueless about the waiting list scandal and coverup involving medical care for military veterans.

Carney told reporters, “You mean the specific allegations that I think were reported first by your news network out of Phoenix, I believe. We learned about them through the reports. I will double check if that is not the case. But that is when we learned about them and that is when I understand [V.A.] Secretary Shinseki learned about them, and he immediately took the action that he has taken.”

President Obama says he didn’t know about former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email address and server for official business until the New York Times published it in a story. The president told CBS News’ Bill Plante that he found out “the same time everybody else learned it through news reports.”

Verse 30 of the Obama Impeachment song. Genocide of Christians and Iran going Nuclear.

Former Rep. Frank Wolf, the leading voice for religious freedom in Congress for decades, says Christianity is on the verge of extinction in Iraq and the remaining steadfast believers do not see much effort from the U.S. or other Western nations to improve their plight.

He co-led a trip to Iraq in January to observe conditions for Christians and other minorities and to speak to people firsthand. The group recently released a report based on that trip titled, “Edge of Extinction: The Eradication of Religious and Ethnic Minorities in Iraq.” He said the conclusions of the visit were obvious.

“Two things. They’re really suffering and they’re really facing extinction,” said Wolf, who added that the people there are mystified at the relative silence in the midst of their suffering, since the Islamic State has very real plans to bring its savagery to the West as well.

“The threat ISIS poses is not only to them but to people in the West and, quite frankly, people in the United States,” Wolf said. “It’s kind of a conglomeration. They kept saying, ‘Why will no one in the West speak out for us? Does anyone care?’

This leads directly to verse 30 of the Obama Impeachment song (As if sung by Obama to the tune of “Please release me, let me go”).

Christians killed in Middle East.

It doesn’t bother me the least.

Give Iran the nuclear beast.

“Religion of Peace” will have a feast.

The complete Obama impeachment song: https://lenbilen.com/2015/02/25/the-complete-obama-impeachment-song/