353
RA Dickey NY Mets Pitcher, a Christian, and National League CY Award Winner
John shares how RA DICKEY, a Christian NY Mets pitcher, just won the National league CY Young award, awarded to the best pitcher in major league baseball’s American and National league. John continues to share RA’s improbable rise to CY Young award winner because of all the setbacks in his life. RA Dickey gives Jesus the credit for his life and success and even considers his pitching as worship on the mound. John continues to share about the time he and his sons met RA at a book signing and gave him a baseball with iAbide.org on it and spoke to RA about abiding. RA was happy to receive the gift and would visit iAbide.org
Israel Fires the First Shot to defend Itself
John, Pat and Chris share about Israel’s most recent strike killing Ahmed Al Jabari, allegedly the head of the military wing of Hamas, according to CBN. Israel’s attack was in retaliation for Hamas’ more than 100 rocket attacks into southern Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Today we relayed a clear message to the Hamas organization and other terrorist organizations. And if there is a need, the IDF (Israel Defense Force) is prepared to broaden the operation. We will continue to do everything in order to protect our citizens.” John continues to share that according to Israel Defense Blog more than a half of a million Israelis have less than 60 seconds to find shelter after a rocket is launched from Gaza into Israel. In fact at least 822 rockets have been fired into Israel this year, an increase from the 651 rockets that that were fired last year, according to Israel Defense blog. They also discussed and explain what, “JJ”, Jesus and Jews, means when they refer to the Islam religion and Muslims who follow the Koran. In this segment Greg recounts a conversation he had with John Stemberger in which he tells Greg what his friend explained to him in regards to Muslims in America, saying, “That there are radical Muslims, then there are moderate Muslims and Muslims who do not know the Koran at all.” “Radical” means you read, believe, and then do what the Koran says. Christians preaching that Jesus, the Son of God, is the only way to God and that is seen as adversarial to the Koran where Mohamed writes that Jesus is not the Son of God and that He will have to come back and repent for calling Himself the Son of God. A moderate Muslim is one that doesn’t fully follow the Koran, i.e. “back slidden” and a back slidden Christian is one that doesn’t know or knows but doesn’t follow the teaching of Jesus. Greg tells John that it sounds like your friend is saying that the hope for America is back slidden Muslims and back slidden Christians. Also, the Koran teaches hatred toward the Jews. The Koran has three goals in regards to those who are not Muslims; convert them, bring them into servitude, or kill them, see Christianity vs. Islam; Bible vs. Koran. The Koran denies access through Jesus to God and does not recognize that Jesus is the only way to heaven and so with that it is important to understand the meaning of “JJ”, Jesus and Jews, otherwise one may think that what is said on VFNRadio, or the VFN Torch is about being intolerant toward the Muslims and that cannot be further from the truth. The truth is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is completely rejected by the Koran and those who follow it and it is seen as very adversarial as it is discussed in this program regarding the imprisonment of Iranian Pastor Youcef Nardarkhani. Pastor Youcef has been in prison for three years in Iran for evangelizing Muslims in his country; he has been recently ordered to appear in court yet again and has now been released. They continue to encourage Christians to stand with Israel and organizations like CUFI (Christians United for Israel) because as goes Israel so goes the church.