Thursday, June 16, in the year of our Lord 2016

By Kevin Swanson

International Christian Concern reports a new wave of kidnappings in Upper Egypt. ​Seven Christian teenage girls have been abducted. ​Most likely they will be forced into Muslim marriages. ​Egyptian police are slow to help these Christian parents find their missing children. The World View spoke to Sandra Elliot from International Christian Concern about the kidnappings.

“The sad reality is that there is nothing new here, this has been going on for about 30 years. And it comes in waves, it’s not one case in every two years, it’s usually about 20 cases at a time, and in 2013 and ‘14, within a span of about three months we got 20 kidnappings in the Minya Governorate alone, and those were actually for ransom. Now we’re seeing this brand new wave of bride-snatching, so, the families that are losing their daughters, they are not even given the chance to reclaim their daughters by, you know, completely lose all their funds; they really are just taken and they never hear from them again.”

“The Lord executes justice for the oppressed. . . The LORD sets the prisoners free.” (Psalm 146:7)

By a vote of 85-13, the United States Senate has voted to include our wives and daughters in the military draft. The United States House voted against the measure, so the issue will be resolved in conference committee. Senator Ted Cruz called it a “radical departure” from American history.  

Nehemiah spoke to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” (Nehemiah 4:14)

The American Center for Law and Justice reports that the United States is preferring Muslim refugees from Iraq and Syria over Christians. From Iraq last year, the US welcomed 11,086 Muslims compared to 433 Christians. From Syria only 28 Christians ​came here compared to 5,435 Muslims. According to the ACLJ, “under U.S. and international refugee law, religion is a criterion for granting refugee status,” something that the Obama administration refuses to acknowledge.

Steve Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, became the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention yesterday, reported the Christian Examiner. Pastor Johnny Hunt, the former SBC president, described Gaines as having a “passionate desire for spiritual revival in our churches and nation.”

A new measure approved by a subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council, would allow counselors to refuse counseling services to gays and lesbians, according to Christian Headlines. However, the measure also requires the counselor to refer the counselee to another health care provider.

The Canadian Supreme Court has ruled that most acts of bestiality are legal in that country. Animal rights activists in Canada are calling for stricter laws on this perversion. The court did not refer to Leviticus 20:15 in its proceedings, and no Christian protests have been recorded in the media concerning these abominations.  

Obamacare insurance will see double digit increases next year, according to a recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The silver policy premium will increase an average of 11%, and as much as 26% in some cities like Portland, Oregon. That’s well above the average inflation rate of 1 – 2%.

The Federal Reserve Board decided NOT to raise the Fed interest rate after a two day meeting this week. The economy, they said, is too weak – given the recent May jobs report was the worst in six years. The stock ​market also registered a five day losing streak.

The body of the 2-year-old boy snatched by an ​alligator at a​ Disney resort beach has been found not very far from where he had been playing. His body as found intact, in six feet of water. As of yesterday, Disney closed all the beaches at their resorts.

The world’s oldest computer, the Antikythera Mechanism, is still fascinating scientists and historians. Discovered in 1901, the mechanism is recognized as the world’s first mechanical computer. Scholars from around the world have been studying it for the past 10 years, learning how the Greeks measured time, tracked planetary motion, and even predicted eclipses with the mechanism! Historian Alexander Jones told the New York Times that ​this device is “the single most information-rich object that has been uncovered by archaeologists from ancient times.”

“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.” (Proverbs 25:2)

Matt Barlow, UK chief executive of Christians Against Poverty, described the situation of the impoverished in the UK as a “living hell.” They are facing the issues raised by chronic debt and are feeling trapped. Over one third of people assisted by the Christian charity organization have considered or attempted suicide, reported Christianity Today. May God grant repentance to the people of the UK to find freedom from sin and slavery.

The Scripture reminds us, “The borrower is the slave of the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7)

Here’s how someone in the UK has dealt with anxiety and depression. Catholic priest, Graeme Bell, admitted to embezzling £96,000 from his parish in Ayrshire, Scotland. Bell used the funds for his online gambling addiction. Sheriff Alistair Watson of the Kilmarnock sheriff court sentenced the priest to 10 months in jail. Most of the funds have been returned to the church, according to Christian Today.

Facebook has withdrawn their suspension of Pamela Geller’s “Stop Islamization Of America” group of 50,000. This comes after media stories, including ones from Breitbart Tech, have exposed Facebook’s liberal prejudice. Facebook claimed in an email to Geller the suspension was a “mistake,” reported Breitbart.

And that’s the World View in Five Minutes.