Happy Monday

The Truth

"Jesus answered ...'Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.'" John 18:37.

In order to understand absolute or universal truth-
- we must begin by defining truth.

Truth, according to the dictionary is-
- a conformity to fact or actuality;
- a statement proven to be or accepted as true.

Some people would say that there is no true reality-
- only perceptions and opinions.

Others would argue that there must be some absolute reality or truth.

In the spring of 2001, the collision of an American spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet caused both governments to blame each other.

The Americans felt certain that their version of the incident was true and, of course, the Chinese felt their version was correct.

Yet, by the very definition of truth, both could not be right.

So, if there can only be "truth" and not versions of truth-
- how is it that people from every religious persuasion have embraced universalism:
- the idea that every religion is equally valid and all men can get to God and heaven their own way?

Consider what Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father but through me."

If all religions are a valid way to God-
- then Jesus was not telling the truth.

And if Jesus was not telling the truth-
- He is not the only way.

Truth, by definition, means that one statement is true and a contradicting statement is false.

Either Jesus is truth or universalism is truth.
I believe Jesus!

Daily Smile: 
A man goes to the doctor and says, "Doc., everytime I drink coffee, I get terrible pains in my eye."

The doctor says, "Try taking the spoon out first."

In The News:

Upsurge in Attacks Signals Growing Islamist Threat in Niger Four attacks within the last three weeks in Niger have raised the specter of a growing Islamist threat in the country, World Watch Monitor reports. In the latest attack on June 11, unidentified armed men attacked a paramilitary barracks on the outskirts of Niamey, the capital. Niger authorities have not made any announcement, but local media say there were no casualties and the attackers managed to flee. On May 23, two suicide attacks in the North of the country targeted a military base in Agadez and a French-run uranium mine in Arlit, respectively. Two Islamist groups active in Mali, the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao) and the Signed-in-Blood Battalion, claimed responsibility for the attacks, which left 36 dead – most of them soldiers -- and threatened further violence. Niger president Mahamadou Issoufou said the insurgents came from neighboring southern Libya. On June 1, more than 20 prisoners escaped from the main detention center in Niamey, the capital, following an attack which Niger authorities attributed to members of Boko Haram, an Islamist sect operating in neighboring Nigeria.

Philippines: Christians Forced to Flee Homes One hundred sixty Christians were recently forced to flee their village after it was attacked by Muslim extremists, according to Voice of the Martyrs. The villages of Malipayon, Saban of Barnagay, Maybula and New Bunawan were attacked at about 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 1. An estimated 300 armed men fired more than five mortars into the village. The Christians who fled the attack are currently unable to return to the village because they fear that the Muslims will kill them and burn their homes, and are in need of food, mosquito nets, bed sheets, sleeping mats and medicine. Many have become ill because they were not able to take their bedding or medicines when they left their homes. VOM has provided the Christians with basic necessities such as food, mosquito nets, blankets and medicine.

Christians in Iran Don't Expect Positive Changes After Rouhani Election SANTA ANA, Calif. – Hassan Rouhani won Iran’s presidential election over the weekend. President Rouhani often is portrayed as being a “moderate” Iranian cleric, but because of his loyalty to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, Open Doors contacts from the region don’t expect positive changes. “The Christians I recently spoke with seemed rather apathetic about the elections,” says an Open Doors field worker in response to the election of the new president. “They don’t seem to expect significant changes in Iran’s policies against Christians.” This is corroborated by an Iranian believer who told Open Doors last week, “In your Western media, the candidates are divided into conservatives and reformers, as if there is a choice, but let me tell you this: there is no choice. All of the candidates are from Ayatollah Khamenei’s team.” Christians, as well as minorities such as Baha’i and Dervishes, have seen an intensification of religious persecution in Iran since 2005, when former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected for the first time. Ethnic Persians are by definition Muslim, and therefore, ethnic Persian Christians are by seen as apostates. But even officially registered churches of the Armenian and Assyrian groups in Iran face harsh treatment when conducting activities in Farsi, the country’s national tongue. In pre-election meetings, Rouhani seemed intent to transform the damaged relations between Iran and the West and called for the release of political prisoners. In the theocratic country of Iran it is yet to be seen how much latitude the new president will have under the rule of Ayatollah Khamenei. The field worker comments: “The question is can Rouhani make a change? At least he is an intellectual, who graduated in the United Kingdom and has called for less confrontational relations with the West. I guess we just have to see in order to know, according to Iranian standards, how moderate he is.” It is too early for Iranian Christians to know if they should be encouraged by the election of Rouhani. "I really don’t know what will be next,” the Iranian believer said after the elections. “I pray for a lasting joy for all Iranians, freedom for prisoners of conscience, comfort for the victims of political violence, justice, liberty, equality and prosperity for the future of our land.” Iran is ranked No. 8 on the Open Doors 2013 World Watch List of the worst persecutors of Christians around the world.

U.N. Seeks Host Countries for Syrian Refugees The United Nations is asking the United States and Europe to take in thousands of Syrian refugees, CBN News reports. Since the beginning of Syria's civil war, more than 1.5 million Syrians have fled the country to seek refuge, and U.N. officials think that number could reach 3.5 million by the end of the year. According to spokesman Adrian Edwards, the U.N. is seeking to relocate 10,000 refugees. Edwards told the Associated Press last week that "resettlement is only one of the tools we use and tends to apply to a very small number of highly vulnerable individuals of any refugee population." Germany has already agreed to take in half; Edwards says the United States and Germany usually offer the most help.