Sadly Unarguable.

Dear All, Around the world, Sharia law is used by many Muslim-majority countries as a comprehensive legal system to address family law, contracts, criminal law, financial transactions, and property rights. The record of its application tells a troubling story. It does not treat women as equal to men. It discriminates on the basis of religion. It prohibits, and in some jurisdictions criminalises, on threat of death, conversion away from Islam. It imposes serious limits on free expression, particularly speech relating to faith. Those who bear the greatest cost of this are often Christians and religious minorities. A death sentence for a song lyric In Nigeria, a young Sufi musician, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, shared song lyrics he had written on WhatsApp and his community deemed the lyrics as “blasphemous”. Before Yahaya reached the courtroom, his house was burnt down by a mob. The Hisbah (Islamic religious police) then arrested him, and a Sharia court swiftly convicted him without legal representation. Yahaya was sentenced to death by hanging. That sentence was later overturned on procedural grounds, but Yahaya now faces retrial on the same charge, awaiting a ruling by the Supreme Court of Nigeria that could either set a precedent against Sharia-based blasphemy law across northern Nigeria, or worryingly, confirm it. Forced into a faith she never chose In Iraq, a young Christian woman named Maryam was automatically registered as Muslim under a law assigning children the religion of a parent who converts to Islam - in her case, her mother, after remarrying a Muslim man. Upon reaching legal age, she challenged the designation, and with support from ADF, won her case - first in a lower court, then before Iraq's Court of Cassation, the country's highest appellate court for personal status matters, in July 2026. Her sisters, however, remain legally registered as Muslim, illustrating how state-assigned religion can strip individuals of the right to choose their own faith and expose non-Muslims to Sharia court jurisdiction. The story the headlines miss To most of the world, the term “Sharia law” brings to mind images of targeted attacks of terrorism - crimes committed by extremists acting outside the law. But Yahaya and Maryam were victims of the law – and this is the fundamental issue and danger with Sharia law that the headlines don’t always cover. ADF continues to advocate for freedom in these regions through litigation and advocacy to ensure protection of the God-given right to live and speak the truth. Will you stand with them today? Thank you for standing with the persecuted and for all your support. With gratitude, Alliance Defending Freedom

Deuteronomy.

Birdie.

 

Lydia - Acts 16. The Apostle Paul.

 Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi.

11) From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12) From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

13) On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14) One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15) When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

What Protestant Churches Can Learn From Catholic Abuse Crisis.

 https://www.christiandaily.com/opinion/what-evangelicals-can-learn-from-catholic-abuse-crisis

Nigeria.

Africa

At least one Christian slain every 86 minutes in Nigeria, study says

Christians in Nigeria were killed at a rate of one every 86 minutes between Jan. 1 and Sept. 8, most of them in the Middle Belt that receives low priority in Nigerian and U.S. security policy, a new report by a U.S.-based aid agency shows. CD.

Kevin Costner, Eh?

 Review: Kevin Costner brings gritty, reverent lens to Nativity in 'The First Christmas.'

By The Christian Post Dec 9, 2026.

 Courtesy ABC

“Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas” takes a direct and reverent approach to the Nativity story, exchanging the traditional holiday cheer for a more historically grounded portrayal of the circumstances, no matter how difficult, surrounding Jesus’ birth. 

The two-hour ABC special, airing Dec. 9 and then the following day on Hulu, blends reenactments, narration from Costner, and commentary from Christian theologians to reframe a story many viewers think they know well.

It’s not a glossy story, and the production’s central strength lies in its emphasis on realism. 

Rather than presenting Mary and Joseph as static religious symbols, the dramatizations depict them as young people navigating fear, uncertainty and danger. The couple’s youth and social vulnerability, the political pressure of Roman rule, and Herod’s mounting paranoia form the backdrop of the journey to Bethlehem.

 

Sign up

“This was a pregnant, unwed teenage girl, and Joseph was just as young. They were kids on this incredible journey," Costner recently told The Christian Post. "This story has lived for thousands of years, but they were teenagers, and it was fraught with danger."

"Babies were slaughtered over this issue. A proclaimed king was coming according to prophecy. These were real times, Roman rule, unstable cultures, and the stakes were incredibly high. Life wasn't valued the way we think of it today. They had to protect their lives and protect their child, whom we proclaim as the Son of God. For them, it was a fight for life at such a young age.”

Costner, who at the start of the special shares how church Nativity plays launched his own acting career, guides the special, threading together the dramatized scenes and scholarly interviews. Specialists from both Catholic and Protestant traditions are included to provide historical and theological context. 

Structurally, the special moves deliberately between storytelling and analysis. The dramatized scenes are competently staged and do not avoid darker elements of the biblical account. Violence associated with Herod’s rule is portrayed directly, and several sequences depicting persecution and death are intense (the special is unsuitable for younger audiences or viewers sensitive to graphic material).

But most importantly, spiritually, the special remains firmly aligned with Christian doctrine. The Gospel narrative is portrayed respectfully and emphasizes the resurrection and Christ’s redemptive purpose: “Let’s keep the Christ in Christmas,” Costner reminds viewers. 

Join our WhatsApp channel for instant updates on Christian news worldwide

Follow Now

And while some scenes rely on informed speculation to fill narrative gaps, the program does not stray from the biblical framework or suggest reinterpretations of core Christian beliefs.

“The First Christmas” will likely resonate most with audiences seeking a more serious and contemplative approach to the season. Its emphasis on historical context, the reality of the difficult moments surrounding Christ’s birth and emotional realism offer viewers an opportunity to engage with the Nativity story beyond stained-glass window pageantry or nostalgia. 

Ultimately, the special succeeds in its goal: presenting the birth of Christ as an event shaped not only by divine promise but also by genuine human risk and ultimately, the hope of the Gospel. The special provides an excellent opportunity for families to reconsider a familiar story through a more grounded, Gospel-centric and thoughtful lens.

"Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas," which will air on ABC on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. EST and will be available for streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. 

Originally published by The Christian Post

Wisdom.

 

Birdie.

 

Suspended. Hmm.

                                          

Court suspends sentences of human rights lawyers in Pakistan

Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday (Sept. 17) suspended the sentences of leading human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, ordering their release on bail while their appeals against their convictions continue before the Islamabad High Court. CD

A Sad State of Affairs.

 Muslims stall construction of church building in Indonesia.

By Morning Star News Sep 22, 2026.

Ampel Mosque in Surabaya, Indonesia. Consigliere Ivan, Creative Commons

Muslims who have long opposed a proposed church building in East Java Province are using an administrative error as a pretext to halt its approved construction, sources said.

Claiming to have the backing of the entire area Muslim community, Muslim residents from the 01 neighborhood of 05 community unit in the Dukuh Kukun area of Babat Jerawat Urban village, Pakal District, Surabaya, assert that the address in official permit documents does not match the proposed church site in the CitraLand housing complex.

“Residents have known about the church construction plan since around 2013-2015. The plan was previously delayed due to opposition from the community. Now, even though the RW [local neighborhood] head has granted permission, it is once again facing resistance from the community because the address listed for the church is incorrect,” a resident told Morning Star News on condition of anonymity.

The church building was slated for construction in Neighborhood Unit (RT) 1, yet the permit was issued for a location in Neighborhood Unit (RT) 7.

Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter

 

Sign up

“This discrepancy has led residents to conclude that the church has not obtained a valid permit,” the resident added.

Attorney Hartony Edi noted that an official administrative decision cannot simply be revoked merely because dissatisfied people protest, as area Muslims did on Aug. 14.

“An administrative error at the lowest level occurring after the issuance of the Building Permit (IMB) does not constitute grounds for rejection that would invalidate a state administrative decision,” Edi told Morning Star News.

He added that the IMB is valid because it was issued by the mayor of Surabaya under the mandate of the 2006 Joint Decree of the Minister of Religious Affairs and the Minister of Home Affairs, based on a genuine need for the church based on the composition of the area population.

“Therefore, the dispute between the community and the church must be resolved through deliberation,” he said, adding that this must take place under the strict supervision of the relevant government authorities, from the lowest to the highest levels.

📱 Get Breaking News on WhatsApp

Join our WhatsApp channel for instant updates on Christian news worldwide

Follow Now

Area Muslims who protested the church construction on Aug. 14 displayed three banners, one saying, “We, the Muslim residents of RW 05, specifically RT 01/RW 05, Dukuh Kukun, wish to preserve interfaith harmony; there is currently no agreement or approval from the residents regarding this church construction, so please resolve this matter first.”

A second banner read, “Do not accuse residents of being intolerant!!! This church is being built without the permission of the residents of Dukuh Kukun (RT 01/RW 05), an area that falls under our jurisdiction.”

The third stated, “We, the residents, are united in this stance. Please resolve the issue first. If the church authorities do not take action, do not blame us for halting construction.”

A resident who wished to remain anonymous at the RT 01 RW 05 community hall in Dukuh Kukun noted a discrepancy between the church location specified in the permit issued by authorities and the actual site where the church is slated to be built, Detik.com reported.

“The issue raised by the 01 neighborhood association side is why the construction permit was issued for the 07 neighborhood association area, while the church is actually being built within the RT 1 area,” the resident reportedly said.

Though questioning the legal procedures regarding the permit issuance and the location discrepancy, the resident stated there was no objection to having a church in the neighborhood.

“The church itself isn’t the problem. A place of worship might be needed, given that it is a CitraLand area,” the resident said. “The bottom line is that the RT 1 head said, ‘I don’t recall signing anything; how did this file get approved?’ That is how I understand the situation.”

Pakal District Head Zainuddin Fanani said opposition to the construction stems from a misunderstanding. He added that his office and other relevant parties are working to resolve the matter through dialogue with residents, Detik.com reported.

Tunjung Iswandaru, head of the Surabaya National Unity and Politics Agency, expressed a similar sentiment.

“The main issue is miscommunication. What is needed is simply communication between the residents and the church,” he said, according to Persatuan Indonesia untuk Semua in a video posted on Aug. 18, which garnered 98,000 likes and more than 8,396 views.

Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi has urged the public not to frame the protest as an act of opposition against the construction of a place of worship.

“So, don’t say, ‘Oh, building a mosque gets rejected, building a church gets rejected’ – that’s not the case,” he explained, according to Lentera.co.

The mayor said rejection of the church construction must be viewed in the context of the housing development’s original plan, specifically regarding its environmental impact and potential traffic congestion within the residential area.

“We have to see if the church construction aligns with the original plan,” Eri told reporters at the Surabaya City Council on Aug. 14. “Every housing development or construction project has a site plan. That site plan requires environmental and traffic impact analyses, which take into account traffic congestion and other factors.”

Eri said he instructed his staff to re-examine the original site plan documents regarding the use of public facilities at the location.

CitraLand Surabaya Manager Maria Nancy Rosalina stated that the company fully supports resolving the issue through constructive dialogue.

“CitraLand management is aware of the situation regarding the planned construction of a place of worship in the CitraLand Utara area,” Rosalina told Detik.com. “CitraLand respects freedom of religion, community harmony, and all ongoing processes in accordance with applicable laws. We support a resolution through dialogue that benefits both parties so that construction can proceed smoothly in the future.”

Religious freedom advocate Permadi Arya, alias Abu Janda, expressed shock that opposition to the construction of a church was coming from a city like Surabaya.

“How is it possible to have church opposition like this in Surabaya? I thought the people of Surabaya were all sensible,” he said in a TikTok video. “And yet, they confidently write, ‘Don’t accuse us of being intolerant citizens.’”

Another Surabaya resident, Entras Wahju Djatmiko, described the opposition as an embarrassment to the city.

“Let’s find the main perpetrators and the masterminds; I’m sure they aren’t true locals of Surabaya,” Entras posted. CD

Much Needed Resilience Against The Onslaught.

https://mail.aol.com/f/newMail/messages/AANViQqmABmlP7XHScp7ab7Htp2

I am utterly fed up with crime writers in the UK inventing police 'partners'. systems. They are everywhere! They are NOT real! Pretty poor research!

 Note:

AI Overview

English police forces do not use an official, permanent "partner system!" like the fixed pairings often seen in American law enforcement.

(However, the concept of police working in pairs does only exist under different operational terms, and "partnership" has a completely different structural meaning in the UK.)

Acts 15. 5 - 11. Salvation.

5) Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”

6) The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7) After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8) God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9) He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10) Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11) No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”