What Happens in the Next Life to Evil Dictators?

Where is Moammar Gadhafi now?

“The dictator is dead, the dictator is dead. Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar!”

These cries rang out unceasingly in Libya and other Middle Eastern countries on Thursday morning as word spread that Moammar Gadhafi had been captured and killed.

Ruling for some 42 years, Gadhafi was the longest reigning dictator in the world. And for the many who suffered under his crushing oppression, I’m sure it was a great relief to see him delivered to some form of justice.

Kathy Tedeschi, who lost her husband in the Lockerbie bombing said, “I hope he’s in hell with Hitler.”

Con Coglin, an expert in the Middle East, sees it as fitting that he should have been killed in a Libyan sewer since, “He had all the morality of a sewer rat.”

I wonder where Gadhafi is now. One of my Muslim acquaintances told me bluntly that such an evil man would now be in hell. My Buddhist friends would tell me that he will be reincarnated as some lower life form so that his bad deeds can be atoned for by his own future suffering. My Hindu friends would probably agree with this assessment. I don’t share this view for the Bible says we die only once (Hebrews 9:27), and then face judgment.

Where do I think he is? Well, I can’t be dogmatic because it is God who judges people. He decides their fate in eternity. Having said that, however, I am inclined to think he is in hell or will shortly be making his way there. I know, I know, to say that is so politically incorrect, and some will probably take me to task for saying it.

But please don’t shoot the messenger. Why not take it up with my boss, to whom I am accountable? For it was God who caused scripture to be written as it is; and I simply use it as a touchstone to measure all truth claims.

And the Bible is clear in Revelation 21:8 that murderers shall end up in the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This evil tyrant slaughtered his own people, which makes him a murderer. In simple terms, Gadhafi seems to be a prime candidate to end up in a very unpleasant future.

I know many reading this will say Gadhafi was a brutal, murdering wretch and he deserves to rot in hell just like Hitler, like Stalin, or like Pol Pot. And it will seem eminently natural to them that such a great evildoer should be judged and punished. But it will never occur to them that judgment day is coming not just for the likes of Moammar Gadhafi, but for all of us who live on Earth. Paul the apostle writing in Acts 17 informs us God is now calling all men everywhere to repent (turn from sin) for, “He has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

Where is Gadhafi now? Let’s be frank—his fate is totally out of our hands. God, not we mortals, is his judge. However, historical Christianity teaches that Jesus one day shall be our judge as well. That will include every person reading this article.

Wouldn’t it be amazingly wonderful if on that day we could stand before God with serenity and confidence? Yes, it certainly would. Maybe, just maybe, that’s why the teaching about Jesus is such astonishingly good news.

Royal Hamel is an ordained minister with the Christian and Missionary Alliance and a freelance writer.

Published October 22, 2011 in the Guelph Mercury

My First Ever Hip Hop Poem

Yeah, let’s be Talking the Walking

So let’s be clear you gotta have words! Your ears, your lips, they ain’t no extravagance.

God didn’t deck you out, two at the hairline just to keep your head in balance,

God didn’t shape pretty, pinkish puckered mouths just for eating…and...kissing,

You gotta have words! For us humans they do the communicating.

But, but, but… hold the horses now, for if words indeed are a must, without which we’d just be mutes doing the hand signals, which is really kinda cute,

You also gotta walk! Yeah, walking is living—living is walking, without which your horn is not ready to be tooting.

Excerpt from an unpublished poem by Royal

The Movie: COURAGEOUS

Courageous is a very good movie. And I would recommend that every father try and see it. But, is it cheesy? Does it try and do too much with the story line? Yes to both of those questions. But, often Christian movies are cheesy...this one in my humble opinion is only moderately so. Again let me say that every father should try and see it...it is inspiring, motivational, has some intense pathos and excellent humour.

Would I invite a non-Christian friend to this movie. Nope. There are parts of the movie that reflect the fundamentalist Christian culture of the USA where the movie was made. And to a great many normal, ordinary, secular Canadians I think there would be a number of "huh, what's that all about" moments. In my opinion it might work as a good witnessing tool in many places, but I don't think many of those places are in urban Canada.

Courageous was far and away the most popular movie this weekend in probably every Cineplex where it was shown. Number of people per showing was 145% higher than Dream House; 110% higher than 50/50; 87% higher than Dolphin Tale and 81% higher than Moneyball. The closest was The Lion King and Courageous still had 67% more people on average in every theater.

Posted by Royal 07/10/11

Let's Learn to Talk About our Faith

Walking the life is important...but talking is important too!

I think that most followers of Christ, even though they would like to share, hesitate to share the good news of Jesus because of their own fear.

They are afraid they may say the wrong thing,

They are afraid of rejection,

And they are afraid of what that rejection will do to their relationship.

Besides, most believers haven’t a clue where to begin that conversation.

That’s why I am letting you know about a workshop that will be held at the Freedom House Church and Healing Centre (8023 Hiway 7, East, Guelph) on Saturday, October 15^th (8:30am-3pm), titled: Talk the Walk Workshop(Helping Christians Share their faith).

In this workshop we will discover:

1. How to take the truth of Jesus outside of your church walls
2. How not to be afraid when you bring Jesus into your everyday world
3. How God equips and calls introverts to share as well as extroverts
4. How one church plant grew from 18 to 170 people in 5 years
5. That there are already key resources available such as:

Christianity Explored

“In all my years of ministry, Christian Explored, without a doubt, has been the most effective outreach tool we have ever used.”

-Pastor Erick Kalmbach, Markham Bible Chapel

While similar to Alpha program in format, Christianity Explored offers a more modern presentation, has a stronger emphasis on scripture and a theological orientation that has broader appeal.

H20- A Journey of Faith

This dynamically contemporary DVD series that is the latest generation of the Alpha/Christian Explored concept that a pastor friend of mine in South Western Ontario heavily used for his church’s outreach and by the grace of God has grown his attendance over 944%. And by the way one of the Pastors's at Crossings Church in Acton, Kellen Wiersma, will be one of the presenters on October 15.

Just Walk Across the Room – Simple Steps Pointing People to Faith

Based on the book by Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church .

God calls us to share the Good News. And, yes, for only a small investment of $30 each (which includes lunch and snacks) this workshop will help equip both extroverts and introverts with tools on how to do just that.

So, mark your calendar and plan to join us. Why not bring along a friend who shares your passion to learn? On the basis of past workshops I promise you that both of you will be encouraged. But that’s not all—you will begin a new walk of sharing Christ with a freedom you've never had before.

I think that most believers are fearful about witnessing, and haven't a clue where to begin. So let's take those baby steps of preparing so that we can begin fulfilling the command of Jesus to take our “good news”to this desperately needy generation. JUST GO TO www.lightthedarkness.org for more details and information on how to register.

Rev Roy Hamel
Executive Director
Light the Darkness Ministries

Grab Every Opportunity for the Kingdom

For those interested in military history I recommend, The Fall of Rome by Michael Curtis Ford. The hero of this book, a man named Odoacer, was the final barbarian who overthrew the Roman Empire in 476 A.D. The following is adapted from pages 274-275 of Ford's book:

Odoacer has a conversation with a hermit/monk, Severinus, regarding the parable of the talents. Severinus speculates the supposed existence of a fourth servant in the parable who would have invested his money to the best of his ability and tried to make a return, but in the end loses all. The following is a direct quotation from the book:

Odoacer looked at him in puzzlement. “What is your point? He asked finally, “God does not reward poor investors.”

Severinus shook his head.

“No, my son. God favors those who take the opportunities given them. Opportunities are blessings; like good health, or a faithful wife, or wine to make us glad. Accepting opportunities implies failure occasionally, perhaps often, because men are fallible and faith is weak. But they are blessings nonetheless.”

“I cannot believe that God rejoices in failure.”

“It is not failure in which He rejoices, but the attempt. Accepting an opportunity implies a faith in God, in the bounty of his gifts…But failing to accept an opportunity, failing even to try, signifies the opposite: a lack of faith, a separation from God, ultimately an arrogance and pride that says we do not trust the gifts God drops in our laps; we, as men, know better than Him, we trust in ourselves rather than rely on Him…

(Odoacer then suggests that perhaps the servant lost the investment because of stupidity)

Severinus responds:

“Perhaps; but that is no sin. God does not punish stupidity—He punishes pride, and lack of resolution, and timidity. Pride and fear, you see, are often one and the same.”

On our vacation this past summer I was astonished to hear from God by way of this totally secular book on the fall of Rome. Nevertheless, that is exactly what happened. God had already been speaking to me through this parable--and suddenly I was exposed to it again from a most unexpected source--only this time with a different twist.

So then, let us all fight vigorously, to our very last breath, against the sin of letting our talents rust. Nothing, but nothing must be allowed to dwell within us that will cause them to rust with disuse.

All Sin is not Equal

Are all sins equal? In one sense, yes, in other ways no. That might sound like heresy to some Christians, but there is a lot of sloppy thinking on this subject. For that reason I am giving the link to an excellent piece that J. I. Packer penned on this very important subject.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/january/19.65.html

posted by Royal

Blowing Minds with the Spoken word

I found an amazing, amazing piece on the power of the Spoken Word. One of the video pieces will literally blow your mind if you are a pothead. Whether you are or not, you will want to send this link to any and all the potheads you know. Never, but never have I heard anything so powerful on smoking dope.

The artist is amazingly compelling because of her talent, but also because of the words she is not afraid to say.

The whole piece along with the two powerful video spots makes me wake up and ask, "What's going on in the world of the spoken word that the church needs to use? Could this be a way of reaching out to a vast part of our world today that we will never reach in any other way?

Check it out! Prepare to be amazed!

'Spitting' in Church? More like in the Devil's Eye.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=334485