"A 5,000 year old underground city discovered in Cappadocia, Turkey" Turkish Daily News

Cappadocia, in Central Turkey is known internationally for its underground cities. Some of them were able to house 35,000 people for several months at a time.

An estimated 400 larger and small cities have been discovered over the past 100 years, but a recent discovery in Nevsehir has archeologists and historians more excited than normal.

Tourists to this Cappadocia region find it to be mysteriously beautiful. Christian historians find its charm in the multitude of cave churches carved into the soft white stone. Balloon enthusiasts take early morning rides above the silent landscape, returning with thousands of photos.

The careful study of the ruins indicates that the inhabitants lived permanently in the underground city. This was not indicated in previous research in the other underground cities, so Hasan Unver, the mayor of Nevsehir is certain that this new discovery will rewrite history.

Read more.

15 photos of this "new (ancient) city here.

The incredible story of Turkey's "Converted Jews". Very few have ever heard this story.

The city of Izmir (ancient Smyrna), where Sabbati Sevi lived.

350 years ago, a Jewish Messiah, Sabbati Sevi, appeared in Smyrna - today's Izmir. His 2,500 (low number) or 10,000 (high number)  followers had to "convert" to Islam, or die. They "converted" in 1666 and became a secret group, mostly centered in Thessalonica, or Salonica, in Grece.

Ten years later, in 1676, questions of leadership and continuity resulted in a division into three groups of the "converted Jews" Now, three and a half centuries later (!) some are secular and a few still follow Jewish ways. One area of Istanbul even "looks different" and many of the 60,000 (estimated) "donme" (converted) live there. Now there is a book about the "Converted Jews". Some of them still consider themselves to be real Jews who deceived the Islamic power of the day, the Ottoman Empire, but they have great difficulty in being accepted as Jews by the several Orthodox Synagogues in Istanbul.

Read more.

The new world of conflict - "Friction is now between global financial elite and the rest of us"

How can the new polarization between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' be explained?

In the USA pre-election debates, Bernie Sanders attracts thousands, even though he is a socialist.

And for the Republicans, Donald Trump is a towering presence. He is the well-known billionaire. USA politics has become an entertainment world of its own.

England's debate about economics is becoming shrill, too, with socialism being proposed by the leftist members of Parliament.

What is happening? Why this world-wide passion about economics?
Why does the expression, 'We are the 99%?' have to do with the noisy gap between rich and poor?

How much of this writer's thoughts do you agree with in this article?

"Is Germany's Refugee Crisis an opportunity for missions? Why do some German churches say 'No'?" - Christianity Today

While churches in Germany want to help recently arrived refugees, some are AGAINST taking the opportunity to present Christian teaching to them.

Other churches believe that this is an IDEAL moment to talk to people about Jesus Christ.

See what you think about this emerging theological conflict.

Note, this article is not for the faint of heart - it presents very complicated issues such as opportunism, Muslims' desire to convert the West and the response of converts' families, who will seek to kill those converting to the Christian faith.

Read more.

"Christian churches are flourishing in the United Arab Emirates" - Toronto Star

At St. Paul's Church, a 4,560-square-metre complex in Musaffah, a fast-growing suburb of Abu Dhabi, Father Ani Xavier has been coping with a hectic schedule since the church opened in June.

 

“We have 16 services on the weekend and 14 services during the week. It is happiness for me to see such a church in the desert. God has blessed us in this part of the world to live in safety and do our missionary work.”

Comments here about many other churches as well.

 

Read more.

"In Hollywood's movies, life is cheap but movies are expensive." - Christianity Today

In Jurassic Park, 22 park attendees die an incredible death. An endless chain of movies has people dying in every possible way - usually pretty gruesome and quickly.

But isn't life precious? Consider The 33 about those miners in Chile. The whole world watched for 39 days, with out hearts in our mouths, before they were saved. Or, the single person left alive on Mars, in The Martian. In real life, one person's life is precious and people will even mortgage their house to pay for a surgery to save a loved one.

What are Hollywood's values when it comes to life and death? This is a good article.

Read more.

How about a church that has sponsored more than 100 refugee families!

Beginning in 1979, one church opened its arms, and its pocketbook, to the boat people. Since then, more than 100 families have come to Ottawa through this church. The Refugee Committee in this church knows how to process an application to the proper government ministry, but much more, they know what Christian love does when one family after another is received with respect and love.

Read more.

"ISIS frees 37 Assyrian Christians" - Aljazeera (But at what cost?)

An agreement has been reached whereby 37 elderly Assyrian Christians can return to their home. However, they had to agree that they would not outwardly show any sign of their faith, whether in clothing or symbols, and they must pay extra taxes to stay alive.

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"All Hallow's Eve; a sonnet of reclamation" - by Malcom Guite

I think you will enjoy Malcolm's blog, his poem and his appreciation of Christian doctrine.

"Halloween seems to be creeping up on Christmas in the crass commercialism stakes, even here in England, where the tradition is less strong! Halloween itself simply means the eve of all Hallows, and All Hallows is the Christian feast of All Saints, or All Saints Day’ a day when we think particularly of those souls in bliss who, even in this life, kindled a light for us, or to speak more exactly, reflected for us and to us, the already-kindled light of Christ!,  It is followed immediately on November 2nd by All Souls Day. the day we remember all the souls who have gone before us into the light of Heaven."

Read more.

Why ISIS is Islam's worst nighmare in 1,400 years

A street in Downtown Beirut

At the present time, there are five simultaneous wars going on in Syria!

ISIS, or ISIL, has upset all the previous balances worked out in the Middle East over hundreds of years. Historical forms of Islam feel as though they are under attack. The terrorist activities of ISIS have brought condemnation from every other nation in the neighborhood, and beyond, especially Russia and the USA. No one has been able to put a stop to these Muslim fanatics after almost two years of atrocities: rapes, beheading, cruel jokes, slavery of women, destruction of historical cities and crucifixions.

A suburb in Cairo, Egypt

After hearing of such atrocities, many Muslims are beginning to discuss perplexing elements
in the Hadiths and the Quran. Before, these were accepted as truth, but now ...  One discussion on Egyptian TV was whether the urine of a camel is medicinal, or not. An iman said, "Yes" and a medical doctor said, "No." this caused an enormous row. Another discussion: how a woman should behave in a business full of men. The Hadiths indicate that she should give her breasts to the men to drink milk, so that they would "become her sons". This act would take away the sexual temptations the men might otherwise have towards her. Many other discussions are causing Egyptians to question the veracity of their faith.

These discussions, especially in Egypt (openly discussed on TV) and in Iraq (discussed in government circles and in the market place) mean that for the first time in hundreds of years Muslims are beginning to question tenants of their faith. But ...even "doubt" earns the wrath of Allah.

As a result, not thousands, but hundreds of thousands, and some say millions, are backing away from their Muslim faith.

HINT: You will not learn about this in the Western Media, since any discussion of Islam is practically "forbidden" (read "editorial policy"). But, if you listen to people on the ground - observing the changes that have taken place in the last four years, you will learn fascinating stories of people coming to faith in Isa Mesih (Jesus Christ). Some imams are changing their loyalties. Across the region, in several countries, the desire for a new kind of peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians is growing.  Never, in 1400 years (according to several witnesses from the region) has their been such a serious attack, an intellectual attack of critical thinking, on Islam, as that brought about by the arrival of ISIS