Hopewit

“ It turns out a settler executed a Palestinian on Shuhada Street outside the Beit Hadassah settlement - we can see this spot from our roof. After which, soldiers (caught on video) planted a knife on the 18 yr old boy's body to claim he attempted to stab someone - that's been happening a lot recently. Don't believe all the stabbings being reported, some are real and some are bogus and simply an excuse/justification for executing Palestinians. The settlers proceeded to rejoice, they were handing out sweets and cups of tea and dancing around the boy's body. There are photos of this.” ( Reliable witness ) “ Six church leaders and parishioners now face charges including manslaughter and assault for a brutal beating in the sanctuary last Sunday that left Lucas Leonard, 19, dead and his brother Christopher, 17, in hospital. (CBC News at http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/church-beating-death-1.3276674 ) The beatings were an escalation of a “counseling session” trying t...

Eigenheim Mennonite Church, 1896 So do not fear, for I am with you ; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 There are fully 70 admonitions in the Old Testament alone that urge the Children of Israel not to be afraid, not to be discouraged because God is on their side and will prevail. Add to that the roughly 20 references in the New Testament that urge us to be fearless in the face of a hostile world and you begin to approach 100 repetitions of that theme. It's amazing that so many Christians have swapped that obviously-Judeo/Christian value for its opposite: a doctrine of intolerance and self-defense borne out of fear of “the other” and the prevailing view that security lies in military might. What can that mean but that we have lost confidence in the God whom we purport to worship and in Christ who said, “ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not...