Remember the recent story about four people sailing off the coast of Somalia that were killed by pirates? Too much IO (information overload) on a daily basis to focus on this one. NY Times article here. A tragedy, or is there something else to the story? It has deeper implications than on face value that four people died. Doubtful you’ll hear this anywhere else.
Presumably, these “tourists” broke off from the security of a convoy in known dangerous waters. What would make someone so bold, or what was so compelling as to motivate risking lives for the diversion from the itinerary and the safety? Sightseeing? Bathroom break? Something nefarious? I wouldn’t go that far. Me thinks not all the above. But there’s an iceberg out there, and this is the tip.
You gotta say with all the news about the pirates off the Somalia coast, and the known desperate situation of the inhabitants; you are pretty defiant when you know you’re in the land of African pirates and you break ranks. You know it doesn’t sound like this year’s brightest idea when you take an excursion into territory known for it’s lawlessness. But I made a connection.
Recently, I read The Purpose Driven Life; the book by Rick Warren that sold 30 million copies. In case you haven’t heard of him; he’s head of the evangelist mega church---Saddleback Church. He’s the controversial minister that denounces homosexuality and President Obama invited him to speak at the inauguration.
I decided to see what was so compelling about his book that 30 million people would buy it, not to mention how many more spouses and children would also be influenced. You do the math on the potential influence.
Why do I bring this up, and what connection could I possibly make between a church in California, and some retired tourists who were, literally, retired, in waters near Somalia? The Flies are big here. It’s really a sad story that shouldn‘t be happening.
Excerpts from the “N.Y. Times”:
“Few people who travel the high seas these days are unaware of the dangers from pirates, though it seemed a risk the Adams were willing to take in the spirit of adventure and excitement. “She said to us, ‘If anything happens to us on these travels, just know that we died living our dream,’ ” said Richard Savage, Mrs. Adam’s brother-in-law from her first marriage. “They were aware that this kind of thing has risks. But they were living their dream.” ……
Before their retirement, Mrs. Adam was a dentist in Marina Del Rey, a graduate of dental school at the University of California, Los Angeles. He worked as a film production manager, on such films as “The Goonies” and “Deliverance,” before leaving the business to attend divinity school; he received a master’s of divinity in 2000 and a master’s of theology in 2010.
Indeed, for the Adams, this was as much a voyage of faith as it was one of adventure. They would load the Quest up with tons of Bibles and distribute them as they traveled the world.
“They would stop in these small islands and connect with the church there, which were in isolated places and really welcomed them,” said Richard Peace, a professor of ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary. “Scott would preach at times for them and being a doctoral student, he would teach in Bible colleges. This was really a major part of their travels.”
Still, friends said that the Adams were not on a mission of proselytization.
“They were very much in love and shared both a love of the sea and a love of God’s word,” Samantha Carlson, a fellow sailor, said in an e-mail to friends. She added: “They were NOT proselytizing or converting anyone.”
Now, it’s not hard to connect the dots. Here are some facts:
Unless there was a severe earthquake, Marina Del Ray is still about an hour’s drive from Lake Forest, Ca; Rick Warren’s main church. Saddleback has nine other locations in the area. (Hey, when I was in Tuscany I schlepped the family and drove overnight roundtrip to Milan to see Da vinci’s The Last Supper. So what’s an hour for god---or, at least, rock star, Rick Warren; the next closest thing?) Anyway…..
----“They would stop in these small islands and connect with the church….”
----“Scott would preach at times for them and being a doctoral student, he would teach in Bible colleges. This was really a major part of their travels.”
----for the Adams, this was as much a voyage of faith as it was one of adventure. They would load the Quest up with tons of Bibles and distribute them as they traveled the world.
---“She said to us, ‘If anything happens to us on these travels, just know that we died living our dream,’ ”
Now if you read The Purpose Driven Life you’ll discover that denial, by Samantha Carlson, would be the proper response, according to Warren, because it’s nobody’s business outside the church. It would be called “gossip“---which means nobody’s business (cover-up). And if you’re a member of Rick’s church, he advocates the fellowship for Christ---all members have common goals and you keep with the same kind of people. You do not divulge church info to “nonbelievers“. Sounds like a cult?
But the following also gives an indication as to the mindset of the congregants from Warren‘s book pg 283:
“In the Great Commission Jesus said, “Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you.”8 This commission was given to every follower of Jesus, not to pastors and missionaries alone. This is your commission from Jesus, and is not optional. These words of Jesus are not the Great Suggestion. If you are part of God’s family, your mission is mandatory. To ignore it would be disobedience.
You may have been unaware that God holds you responsible for the unbelievers who live around you. The Bible says, “You must warn them so they may live. If you don’t speak out to warn the wicked to stop their evil ways, they will die in their sin. But I will hold you responsible for their death.”9 You are the only Christian some people will ever know, and your mission is to share Jesus with them.”
They left the convoy. Can you imagine the conversation between the hijackers and the tourists? What’s with the tons of bibles---scrip?
The Saddleback Church (I imagine they’re not the only evangelists) teaches that life on earth is only temporary, and the above quote is self explanatory (spreading the word, converting), or you’re not doing your job. And throughout the book; the glory, to a “believer”, comes with death; because if you’ve been a good “believer”, you get to live eternally with Christ, their lord.
‘Nuf said; you decide for yourself.
If you ask me, I would say it’s like Bertrand Russell put it: I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong.
But if you want another 2 cents; these were “captured” people. There oughta be a law against false advertising, promising eternal life, and the likes of snake oil salesmen preying on people who feel they have nowhere else to turn. My book will be out explaining this. True, caveat emptor, but there are a lot of people out there who are easily influenced; not to mention the indoctrination they’ve received since childhood that couldn’t be questioned. Lawsuit? Did Rick Warren put them in harm’s way under false expectations? (Did mortgage companies prey on unsuspecting individuals and secure mortgages for many who couldn’t afford their payments?). Was Geico’s Abe Lincoln honest? shhhhhhhh---there’s an elephant in the room. (See Wisconsin and the link to the Governor’s backroom)
Why not believe in yourself and save the tithing; regardless of one’s religion. And while you’re at it, spend the 10% tithe for good stuff while you’re here on earth rather than chasing 2500 year old fantasies and buying “green bananas” (my father told me about the bananas); and hoping you made the cut at the pearly gates for eternal life. If you know someone who’s susceptible to the above, maybe you can turn them on to this site and maybe it‘ll precipitate some questions. The scary thing is; this is a “faith based” voting block at election time; and as you see, they will do a lot for the cause. It’s a different crusade déjà vu.
Next time you see a Scientology commercial, a Christian dating commercial, or it’s “Time to Pray” commercial, or who knows what else; ask yourself, who’s countering for the other viewpoints? Who is proposing the alternative training to robotic religious indoctrination? Has it been heard without flies? And is religion really what they need in places like Somalia?
No Flies
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