Hands Off Honduras by Philip Giraldi

Giraldi does a good job of sifting out the events and giving an understanding of both what happend (and is happening) as well as the consequences. I don't agree with him on every aspect, but I believe he attempted to be balanced in his coverage.

Hands Off Honduras by Philip Giraldi

Stop me if you've heard this one: An Imam, a Priest, a Monk and a Rabbi walk into a Turkish game show…

In general I'm pleased when God and Salvation are a topic of conversation, it provides Christians an opportunity to share the eternal, as well as present hope we have in Christ. Paul’s discourse with the Greek Philosophers (Acts 17) took advantage of their idol “to an unknown God” as a springboard to teaching about salvation through Christ’s sacrifice. As a result, a few became believers, but apparently Paul didn’t accept the philosopher’s invitation to return and continue in empty dialogue, he chose to move on. The recent article about a Turkish TV game show offering salvation is great, but there’s one big problem, God is not in the equation at all and I imagine Paul would pause shortly to see if the Lord provides any fruit, and then move on. Obviously the Turkish network is focusing on gathering viewers, and it makes business sense if you can do so from four major religious groups. I imagine (although it’s a stretch) that the four contestants are approaching this to see if there will be any fruit for their particular faith, but I look at the entire show similar to the Greek’s Idol to an Unknown God . In a sense it’s “American…” I mean “Turkish Idol” where contestants try to rationally convince the judges who are atheists, that their religion is best. The understanding is that it is possible to bring people to salvation without God first working in their hearts. The show may not necessarily be dedicated to Biblical Principals: "We don't approve of anyone being an atheist. God is great and it doesn't matter which religion you believe in. The important thing is to believe," but quite possibly can be used by those who not only seek to share their hope in Christ’s salvation, but trust in God to bring the fruit as they are faithful to respond to the opportunities He provides as Paul did on Mars Hill.

Today I’m praying for the wisdom to recognize the opportunities that the Lord places before me however strange they may be, and then to respond to them in faith, trusting the Lord to bring the fruit.

Link to Reuters Article on Turkish Gameshow

'We the people are glad he is not in power'

As my friend pointed out in my previous post, 10,000 monkeys equates to the level of international media coverage on Honduras. Below are excerpts from Hondurans that posted with the BBC, and as you will see, we're not getting the whole story. Just as the US has a Constitution, so does Honduras and apparently Mr. Zelaya has violated it, resulting in his removal from the presidency. Now, to be fair, at this point both sides have violated the constitution through their actions, but let’s not forget that a constitution does exist, is the law of the land and the president must fulfill his duties under its rule. I think we need to remember this same point right here in the US as well.

Page last updated at 01:11 GMT, Monday, 29 June 2009 02:11 UK
Mr Zelaya wanted a referendum so he could seek a second term
A new president has been sworn into office in Honduras, hours after the ousting of President Manuel Zelaya.
Congress speaker Roberto Micheletti will serve as interim president until polls are held, Congress said.
The removal of Mr Zelaya by the army came amid a power struggle over his plans for constitutional change.
BBC News website readers in Honduras have been telling us their views:

Daniella Pineda, Tegucigalpa, Honduras -The event this morning should be taken as an arrest against a Honduran citizen, Manuel Zelaya, who broke the constitutional Honduran law in multiple occasions over the last few days. This SHOULD NOT be taken as a coup d'état. The vast majority of Hondurans firmly oppose Manuel Zelaya and are in favour of his arrest. The events happening today were caused by an attempt by Manuel Zelaya to manipulate our country and its constitution to fulfil his ultimate goal of remaining in power indefinitely.

Kennya, San Pedro Sula, Honduras -I live in San Pedro Sula in Honduras, the second biggest city of Honduras. There is no military action around here, things are running smoothly. If it was a resignation or a coup, good thing Mr Zelaya is no longer in power since he was doing everything illegally and trying to stay in power. Thank God that he is no longer here. Now we may be in peace.

Katherine, San Pedro Sula, Honduras -I am writing from Honduras to inform all foreign Honduran residents abroad that everything is calm and normal. The overall emotion is of joy, and we are proud that we have stood up to a leftist. This was not a coup d'etat as some media reports, it was done following the laws of our constitution. I do hope that the international community stops calling this act a coup, because it was not, and the militaries are taking order from the judicial branch, no on their own.

Jorge Suazo, San Pedro Sula, Honduras -I am a Honduran and although I don't approve a "coup", Zelaya violated Honduran laws and acted as a dictator (with Hugo Chavez being his "mentor"), so we the people are glad he is not in power anymore. The Congress already restored Constitutional normality and the military have all the approval from the people. Is not just four or five persons that are against Zelaya (as he said), it is the majority of Hondurans.

Kenneth, Tegucigalpa, Honduras -My name is Kenneth Bustillo, a Honduran, living in Tegucigalpa, capital of the country, there no military movement of serious concern, ex-president Zelaya violated the constitution of the country, his primary goal was to continue in power breaking all the laws stated by the judiciary branch, the majority of the people are happy and relieved of this burden called Manuel Zelaya.

Laura Eyl, Tegucigalpa, Honduras -I am Honduran, and it is quite confusing to understand why today's events have received an "international condemnation". 80% of Hondurans support the so called "coup". Zelaya's supporters belong to a communist party that admires Hugo Chavez. Zelaya's own party "Partido Liberal" turned its back on him after he sold out to Hugo Chavez. This was not a coup. It was the only way Honduras could try to stop an unwanted dictator to turn the country communist. Please help us communicate this to the international community. Chavez continues to threaten us with his military. We need some sort of intervention not condemnation!

Estrella, San Pedro Sula, Honduras -No military movement has been observed here in the city, just a few planes where observed flying in the morning. Here the great majority of people are happy to see that Mel Zelaya is no longer our president, because he created a terror environment in which we all feared loosing our rights with his plans of handing out our country to Chavez, who has been the greatest sponsor of the poll that Mel pretended to have today, without the approval of congress and the national election authorities. With the only objective of him staying as a dictator. Do not condemn us to a socialist government reinstating Mel Zelaya.

Carlos Rivera, San Pedro Sula, Honduras -I am sad for what has happened in my country, but I am afraid that this all has been a necessary action. I am an 19-year-old student that has no tie whatsoever to political ties. I have been witness to many things happening in my country and many evidences of ex-president Manuel Zelaya of clear disrespect to the laws of my country with the sole purpose of extending his mandate and changing the constitution and the democratic system. I feel the need for the international press to know this and listen the voice of the population. What has happened today is not a "plot by a voracious elite" like ex-president argued, it is the inevitable consequences to the constitutional infringement that this person has done in our country.

Warren Post, Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras -President Zelaya did not respect the Honduran Constitution, Congress, Hondurans or the Supreme Court. He was imposing his views, he was warned of the illegality and unconstitutionality of his acts. His dismissal is a fair one. Alma Garcia, Olancho, Honduras
Here in Santa Rosa de Copan there is an atmosphere of festivity following the military removal of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya this morning. Citizens here strongly oppose Zelaya and are asking one another "What took the Armed Forces so long?" The only anger I saw was in a coffee shop where Hondurans expressed indignation at what they perceived as pro-Zelaya bias in international news reporting.

Original BBC Page:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/talking_point/8123529.stm

Coup, coo, coo-coo

Thoughts on Honduras from friends there.

In His Hands / En Sus manos;

Kevin S. Abegg

---

From: Friends

Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 12:26 PM
Subject: coup, coo, coo-coo

Howdy all,
Mmmm, where to begin?
Well, we are safe here in .......... and our streets are fairly quite, for Latin America because no one told the chickens and the dogs!
We now have a nationwide curfew from 9pm-6am. It was effective yesterday and starting again tonight. It really was a good thing that Mel (our ex-president) left, as he broke the law. He and his buddy Hugo Chavez from Venezuela just did not want him to stop being president at the end of the year when his term limit was over. We think this is a good thing.
We have decided to not move tomorrow and not load up the trucks today.
It is not that we enjoy living in an empty house with not fridge, no stove, no washer, no dryer and only 3 office chairs to sit on, it is just that we are unsure of driving across the country and since there is no rush to get there other than some comforts, we thought better safe than sorry.
It is not many times you are given an extra day to pack up a house, so that is good.
We had a HUGE thunder and lightening storm last night which knocked out the electricity around 5pm. It has not fully recovered, as we are in a brown out, but we get electricity a little here and there. Lucky us, it is only our neighborhood.
So, really the fridge, stove, washer and dryer probably would not work anyway!
We had eaten most of our food so we could eat out our last days here, as we love to eat out, but that did not work out so well as everything was closed yesterday. Our great neighbors fed us lunch and dinner!
Our US phone has worked on and off, so we have called the grandmas and the grandpa.
....... said:

Putting 100 monkeys in a room with typewriters for 10,000 hours may not produce Shakespeare, but it will almost certainly produce the international news coverage of the situation in Honduras.

Well put my dear.
So, keeping on praying for us down here. For wisdom when to move, for safety for so many missionaries down here, for Mr Chavez to stay in his own country and not come and visit ours with his army, and for Mrs Clinton to get her facts straight.
Hope your day is dull and boring. It is much more fun.

T.......

Honduras moving toward Chavez and the Castros?

As our media focuses on Jackson's and Fawcett's passing (which are newsworthy items to varying degrees) we are missing what's happening in the rest of the world. Please pray that the Church & believers in Honduras would exemplify Christ as their nation teeters on the brink of bloodshed.

See AP article: Honduras heads toward crisis over referendum

Cuban Oil and the Embargo

90 miles off the coast of Florida sits a largely untapped field of oil and natural gas. Most of those reserves are in Cuban territory, and not available to the United States. Under existing law U. S. based companies cannot explore, develop, provide drilling equipment, personnel or even investment. Given the present state of the global and U. S. economies, demand for oil has diminished. The present administration and Congress, are committed to building renewable energy sources and developing the infrastructure necessary to distribute that energy. The Congress is opposed to the development of offshore drilling, citing environmental reasons. Yet, until alternative energy is readily available, a long way down the road, the economy will continue to run on oil.When Cuba began selling concessions in 2001 other countries took notice and began to participate. These foreign oil companies include state and publicly traded firms such as PETROBRAS, STATOIL and China. Technically it is illegal for U. S. companies to sell equipment and supplies to these firms for use in the exploration of these fields...

For full article see: http://www.glgroup.com/News/Cuban-Oil-and-the-Embargo-40236.html
Which is an analysis of the original article: "Cuba could become U.S. oil supplier at embargo's end" located at: http://www.glgroup.com/News/Cuban-Oil-and-the-Embargo-40236.html

Parentalrights.org -- 20 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Parentalrights.org -- 20 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

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