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

My Mom: Woman of Faith

I sighed numbly, my mind exhausted after hours of detailed sorting through books, “I think if I see even one more book on prayer I may go over the brink.” My brother-in- law, Ronnie, and I, had been given the job of sorting through my mother-in-law’s vast assortment of theological and devotional books.

Kay, whom I love as much as my real mom, has recently moved out of her home where she lived for almost sixty years. The kids including the sons-in-law now have the daunting task of sifting through all the possessions that Kay has accumulated over her 87 years.

Kay has been a reader all her life. She didn’t buy books to line up on shelves to impress people. Most of her books were about becoming a more informed, and committed Christian. She read deeply, widely, frequently and meditatively. Almost every single volume had at least one bookmark, sometimes two or three. Many of the pages had copious markings, and occasionally entire paragraphs were underlined. None of us will ever forget that she constantly aspired to know God better and to follow him more closely.

If she came across a book that she thought would help her to that goal she would buy it in a flash. As a young mother with three little girls in tow she would browse for her treasures, hours at a time, in musty second hand book stores. In our age reading is almost a lost art, but Mom’s love for it inspired her children to become readers as well, and some of them writers. And beyond her example, she leaves a trove of countless worthy books that helped her in her walk and will be of great help to us who inherit them.

Besides books there were personal journals and diaries recounting her own aspirations and pursuit after God, ink spilled for her sake, yes, but for us as well. Beyond that there were the cassette tapes of praise music, wall hangings, and the plaques that got collected over the years. For Kay, God was as real and as present to her as was her very breath.

As long as I can remember she was a woman of prayer who prayed not just for her own needs, but for her kids, grandkids and her neighbours. We felt like we could just call her up anytime when one of our kids was in trouble, and then we could rest easier. We knew the old amazon of prayer was on her knees. Makes you think she actually read a lot of those books on prayer, doesn’t it?

Kay is a woman who is constantly praising God. I have seen her only intermittently over the years as I live far away. Yet when we are together she always shares about what God is doing in her life. Her legacy consists not only in the old praise cassettes, but in the constant praise that is a hallmark of her daily life.

As I was going through Mom’s enormous library I over and over again mused on the words of, Find us Faithful, a well known song by Steve Green.

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

I salute you my mother. Kay Roberts. My footprints come behind yours--I have found you faithful.

Published in The Guelph Mercury, July 16, 2011

Ten Major Shifts For Impacting our Communities

I've had the privilege of hearing David Macfarlane. He's worth listening to. He is primarily an evangelist and a mentor to the churches to help them fulfill their calling. Funny, that's how I see myself too...

Ten Paradigm Shifts Toward Community Impact
based on a message by Eric Swanson - used with full permission
By David Arrol Macfarlane

As I speak at conferences and in churches across Canada I see a quiet movement of the Spirit of God that is causing believers to re-examine how they “do church.” Churches are throwing out the old measures of success. It’s no longer merely about size, seeker sensitivity, spiritual gifts, church health, nor the number of small groups. It’s about people being genuinely transformed by Christ - making a significant and sustainable difference in the lives of those around us—in our communities and in our cities.
My Dad often said to me: “David, you cannot continue to do the same old things and expect different results.” To maximize our impact on our Canadian communities--urban, suburban or rural, we need changes in at least ten of our paradigms of how we currently view church.

1) From building walls to building bridges. “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13,14). The first paradigm shift pertains to where we, as the church, see ourselves in relation to our communities. Will we remain outside of the community inviting people in or will we go to our communities, seeking to be a transforming agent?
More: http://www.davidamacfarlane.com/published-articles.html