Secular Vietnam growing hungry for God

I am homeward bound via Bangkok. An intense week in Hanoi is completed and I am very happy and satisfied. It was really great to see our Vietnamese friends again! They must be among the friendliest peoples on earth. One should not confuse that with weakness, though. Behind the kind surface is a strength that surprises. The French and the Americans learnt that lesson 40-50 years ago.

Vietnam is still ruled by the Communist party. The Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, of course inspired by Lenin’s at the Red Square in Moscow, is still one of the main attractions in Hanoi. Behind that official allegiance to socialist ideals, capitalism is moving in like a freight train. On that train are all the modern commodities you can imagine. Even if the hordes of scooters still dominate the streets, this is quickly changing and the number of cars is growing. Brand fashion, high end electronics and luxury cars, even though they are not as prevalent as for example in China, they all tell the story of a definite departure from a Soviet style commando economy.

This leap can only take place with a greater openness to the world. Pressed by China, Vietnam looks for alliances with APEC nations as USA, Japan Australia. There are signs that the governments earlier harsh attitude toward churches is changing. Unlike Europe that becomes more and more secularised, Vietnam goes the opposite direction. Even if there is a majority of nominal Buddhist and a Christian minority of about 10 %, Vietnam is largely secular. Maybe up to 70-80 % are considered nonreligious, an effect of long atheist communist rule. From being a very secular nation, it now turns more and more to religion. There is a growing spiritual hunger. This means that there is a window of opportunity here, as a nation of 90 million opens up for the gospel.

Having witnessed a tremendous multiplication effect already and where Word of Life is now present in over 40 provinces with pioneer churches, which are led by our former bible school students, I am convinced that we have great days ahead. I know that the already more than 1000 students, who are strategically placed across the country, will make a huge difference. The seeds sown across the land will grow and multiply. Word of Life is ready to engage in the harvest.

It was great to place the board meeting of Word of Life International in Hanoi this time. We represent many hundreds of churches that are united in vision. Part of that vision is to expand into the missions’ fields. These will be ready to support the work of our Vietnamese friends and together we can establish, multiply and expand the work in Vietnam and beyond. Our best days are ahead!

Париж, теракт джихадистов, расизм и антисемитизм

Мир в очередной раз потрясли теракты. События 13 ноября в Париже показывают нам истинный внутренний мир исламских боевиков. Они готовы убивать и умереть за одну больную, «святую» идею. Та же самая болезнь является причиной большого потока беженцев, которые каждый день испытывают такие же ужасы на своей родине.

Подобные террористические действия  станут станут подарком для

экстремистов правого крыла, которые имеют свои подтверждения. Скоро беженцы будут обвинены в причастии тех терактов, от которых они бежали из собственной страны. Иногда это простирается на всех подряд. Иногда люди высказывают свое отвращение в связи с казнями христиан и езидов, а потом публикуют такие посты как: «Не приносите этих идиотов сюда». Люди просто потеряли способность отличать преступника от жертвы.

Да, есть проблема в Европе с радикальными исламскими силами, которые, очевидно, преуспевают в том, чтобы привлечь много молодежи. Будет необходимо больше ресурсов, чтобы отслеживать это.

Умение не отрицать террористические угрозы, столь же важны, как умение не обвинять людей из Ближнего Востока, которые спасаются от тех же боевиков. Они не террористы, они — жертвы террора. Они более потрясены этими террорами, чем мы.

Если мы хотим быть маяком цивилизации (который мы часто проявляем только в словах), то должны быть цивилизованными и показать великодушное отношение к нуждающимся беженцам. Это вовсе не означает, что мы не можем быть бдительными к возникающим задачам.

Самое причудливое в этом кошмаре то, что во всем снова обвиняют евреев. Теперь палестинские активисты поднимут версию, что евреи виновны в терактах. Тоже самое случилось во время теракта в «Шарли Эбдо», где непосредственно нападения были сделаны против евреев. Все же, есть интересная связь с Израилем.

В 1894 в антисемитском заговоре и через судебную ошибку, французско —  еврейский чиновник Дреифус был ложно осужден за шпионаж и измену. Он был приговорен к пожизненному заключению и послан в позорный лагерь для военнопленных, «Остров дьявола» во Французской Гвиане (он известен многим из книги Папилон).

Во время суда толпа кричала: «Смерть Евреям». Венгерский журналист Теодор Херзл, который был свидетелем происходящего, понял, что если такое случилось в Европе, где евреи более интегрированы в обществе, то они не будут в безопасности нигде. Именно в это время зародилось видение безопасной родины, которая в свою очередь дала начало рождению государства Израиль.

К дополнению этой истории, стоит отметить, что Дреифусь, которого приговорили к тюрьме по ложным обвинениям, был освобожден в 1906 году. Антисемитские группы рассмотрели это, как доказательство еврейского заговора и попытались убить Дреифуса.

Таким образом, антисемиты могли обвинить «еврея», во-первых, в шпионаже и предательстве, а потом в том, что были частью еврейского заговора для его освобождения.

И сейчас палестинские группы обвиняют Израиль в ужасах Парижа, которые скорее всего совершили исламские террористы.  Это сильно повреждает их авторитет! Или повредил бы, если, кто-либо заметил это!

Sunrise in Bangkok

We have just arrived to Bangkok in the early morning hours. The sun rises and a new day is dawning in this giant city. And with the sun millions rise for a new day. I have travelled through Bangkok many times, but only once did I get a chance to spend some hours here. It would definitely be worthwhile taking a few days here sometime.

Our route here were over areas where we have worked intensely over the years, cities in Russia and Ukraine, Baku, Kabul, Delhi and others. We also flew right over Yangoon, the capital of Myanmar where the historic election just a few days ago hopefully will lead the nation into a stable democracy.

Bangkok is not our destination. We are heading for Hanoi for a Word of Life International board meeting. We meet in different locations, just so that we can discuss matters where they happen. Earlier times we have met in Uppsala, Moscow, Jerusalem and Kolkata. Now it is time for southeast Asia, where doors are opening up. Together we can accomplish something good across this region. We have a good start already in Vietnam, with Word of Life works in 45 provinces across Vietnam and burgenouning expansion in neighboring countries. We definitely have an interesting future in southeast Asia!

Paris - jihadi terror, racism and antisemitism.

A world is in shock as terror strikes again in Paris.

The terror acts in Paris show us the reality of the inner world of these perpetrators. They are ready to kill and die for a sick "holy" cause. This same, sick cause is the primary reason behind the flood of refugees, who in their homelands experience these horrors on a daily basis. 

A terror act like this, is a gift to extreme right wing elements, who now have their proofs! Many of these refugees, will now be blamed of being secret terrorists, the same terror they are fleeing from in their homeland. Sometimes this spills over on people in general. When people write of their disgust concerning the beheading of Christians and Yazidis and then write posts like "Don't bring these idiots here", they have lost track of who is perpetrator and who is the victim.

Yes - there is a challenge in Europe with these radical islamic forces and who obviously succeed in attracting many young. More resources will be needed to keep track of this.

As important as to not deny the terror threat, it is important to not blame the people fleeing from these very forces in the Middle East. They are not terrorists, they are victims of terror. They are more appalled by this terror than we are.

If we want to be a beacon of civilization (which we often claim in words, at least), let us be civil, have a generous attitude toward the needy refugees. It doesn't mean we can't be sober concerning problems arising.

What adds the bizarre to this terror nightmare, is the fact that the Jew gets blamed again. Now Palestinian rights activists raises the possibility that Israel was behind the gruesome attacks! The same happened after the attack against Charlie Hedbo, in which connected attacks were made against jews directly.

There is an interesting connection to Israel, though. 1894 in an antisemitic plot and through miscarriage of justice, the french jewish officer Dreyfus was falsely condemned for espionage and treason. He was sentenced for life and sent the infamous prison camp, "Devil's Island" in French Guiana, to many more known through the book "Papillon".

During the trial, mobs were chanting "Death to the Jews!" The hungarian journalist Theodor Herzl, who witnessed this, understood that if this could happen in the very country in Europe, where the Jews had been most integrated in society, they would be safe nowhere and that was then the vision of a safe home land, a Jewish state was born, which ultimately led to the birth of the state of Israel. 

As an additional twist to this story, Dreyfus who had evidently been sentenced on false charges, was acquitted 1906. Antisemitic groups saw this as a proof of a jewish plot. A right wing activist shot and wounded Dreyfus in an attempt of murder. 

So in the end, the anti-Semites could still blame "the Jew" anyway, first for espionage and treason, and then for being a part of jewish plot to free him.

Now Palestinian rights groups blame Israel for the horrors in Paris, which are most likely carried out by islamic terrorists! It severely hurts their credibility! Or would, if anyone noticed it!