Refugee Crisis by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2016, all rights reserved. Chapter 1 We have a refugee crisis in the world these days. It has affected many of the nations of Europe, and the significance of this crisis extends worldwide because of the economic impact. Assad, the dictator of Syria is making war on his own people. Some of them. You have your two branches of Islam. People whose religion is Islam are Muslims. There are the Sunni Muslims, and there are the Shia Muslims. It might seem a little strange, but Sunnis and Shia have a tendency to murder each other. And Assad wants to stay in power, like most dictators. Some Americans might think we ought to go and knock out Assad. But for one thing, I think there's a law against executing a foreign head of state. Another question would be, if Assad were to come to an end, what would replace the Assad administration in Syria, and how can we be sure it wouldn't be worse than Assad? Another factor is that our nation is spread rather thin militarily at this time, what with our military activities in Iraq, Afghanistan, and against ISIS in the various places that they are. And these wars cost money and lives, and our nation is trying to recover from a recession. I'm part of the Pentecostal Christians. Another branch of Protestantism is the Baptists. So do Pentecostals and Baptists go around killing each other? Fortunately not. And it would be very much unChristian to do so. Baptists and Pentecostals have their doctrinal differences, primarily I think, having to do with the Baptism with the Holy Ghost with the speaking in unknown tongues. We Pentecostals regard Baptists as not being full-gospel. But Jesus said, "Love your enemies," in the Sermon on the Mount. (Matt 5:44) The Sermon on the Mount is in Matthew chapter 5 through 7. One time I said to a Muslim neighbor of mine, "You people don't have Jesus." He answered, "Oh, we have Jesus, he's one of our prophets." I answered, "You don't have Jesus as Savior." But if Jesus is one of the prophets of Islam, why won't the Muslims do what the Prophet Jesus said, and love their enemies? So then, I don't think it's really fair for Muslims to say that Jesus is one of their prophets when they won't obey the Prophet Jesus. But I don't think it's so much disobedience as it ignorance of what Jesus said during His life on earth. That above scripture from Matt 5:44 is from the Bible, but Muslims read the Koran (or, Quran) and generally neglect reading the Bible, and by doing so, miss many of the words of Jesus. The death and destruction in Syria is so bad that many Syrians are fleeing that nation. Not just hundreds of them. Not just thousands. But approaching a million refugees, and possibly more. Some go to African nations, but it seems that, generally, a more desirable destination for them is Europe. Many of the refugees get on boats in Northern Africa to cross the Mediterranean Sea to get to Europe. It was on the news just very recently about more refugees dying when their boat overturned in the Mediterranean. And that has happened many times. The main reason for these refugee boats overturning is that too many people are getting aboard an individual boat. But if you're desperate to escape to the Promised Land, you may think it's worth the risk. Actually, the phrase, "the Promised Land" doesn't exactly apply here, since that was for the children of Israel. So, not exactly the Promised land, but hopefully something better than where they're fleeing from. So this has been a problem for Greece, for Italy, for Macedonia, for Germany, for Austria, for Turkey, and other European nations. For a while, some of those nations had open borders to refugees, but now, some of the formerly open borders have been closed. Chapter 2 A large influx of refugees will have a significant impact on any nation where that happens. They need dwelling places. They need food. They need jobs. You may then have increased criminal activity. They might be bringing in some communicable diseases. But not the least factor in considering whether to allow a large influx of Muslims is the fact that so many of the Muslims get radicalized and attack non-Muslims, and become suicide bombers, thinking that they are doing something for Allah, who they think is God. Jesus said, "The time will come when he that kills you will think that he's doing God a service." (Jhn 16:2) That time is now. In fact, it is a teaching of Islam that those who die as Muslim martyrs go straight to heaven. But that is a false teaching. If you blow up innocent people with your suicide bomb, you're a murderer. And the Bible says in 1 John 3:15, "No murderer has eternal life in him." Eternal life and going to heaven are the same thing. So, you don't go to heaven by blowing up innocent people, as Muslim suicide bombers do. 7 And they asked him, "Master, but when shall these things be? And what sign will there be when these things shall happen?" 8 And he said, "Be careful that you're not deceived, for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and the time draws near, therefore don't follow them. 9 But when you hear of wars and commotions, don't be terrified, for these things must first happen, but the end is not yet." 10 Then he said to them, "Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, 11 And there shall be great earthquakes in various places, and famines, and pestilences, and fearful sights and there shall be great signs from heaven. 12 But before all these, they'll lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13 And it will be a testimony for you. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts not to think ahead of time what you'll answer, 15 For I'll give you a mouth and wisdom, that all your adversaries won't be able to contradict nor resist. 16 And you'll be betrayed both by parents, and brothers, and kinsfolk, and friends, and some of you they'll cause to be put to death. 17 And you'll be hated by all men for my name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will be destroyed. 19 In your patience possess your souls. 20 And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that the desolation of it is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside of it go out, and let those who are in the countries not enter into it. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, so that all things that are written will be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are with child and to those who breast feed in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land, and anger at these people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations, and Jerusalem shall be walked on by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring, 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking at the things that are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then they'll see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to happen, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption gets close." 29 And he spoke to them a parable, "See the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they now shoot out branches, you see and know of your own selves that summer is now near. 31 So likewise you, when you see these things happen, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I say to you, this generation shall not pass away, until all has been fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 34 And watch yourselves, so that your hearts won't become overloaded by excessive indulgence, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day takes you by surprise. 35 For like a trap it shall come on all of those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Stay awake therefore, and pray always, so that you'll be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall happen, and to stand before the Son of man." (from Luke chapt 21) Notice vs 25, above, "DISTRESS OF NATIONS, WITH PERPLEXITY" The nations are distressed, and they are perplexed by these problems. There are no easy solutions to these problems that could be found by human thinking and human reasoning. Christians should be praying for God's help in solving these problems. But the Bible has predicted many problems in "the latter days." We are now in those latter days. Compare what Jesus said in the twenty fourth chapter of Matthew with the passage above from Luke. While God can help us with such problems, some of these prophecies of Jesus can't be avoided. There is so much lack of fear of God in the world. Men are lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God. The sins of the world bring confusion, destruction, and financial problems. Jesus said,-- 13 Enter in at the restricted gate, because wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and there are many that go in there, 14 Because the gate is restricted, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (from Matt chapt 7) In this passage, Jesus is saying that most people go to hell. Hell is a very nasty place where their worms don't die, and where the fire is never quenched, and where there's crying and gnashing of teeth, says Jesus. The good news, of course, is that you don't have to be one of those who go to hell. Jesus said, "You MUST be born again." (John chapt 3) To become a born again Christian, and get on the road that leads to heaven, obey Romans 10:9,10-- "That if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you're saved. For with the heart man believes for righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made for salvation." And then, Christians should pray every day and read the Bible every day. ___James chapter 1 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings. 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations, 3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, 10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away. 11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man, 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. 18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God. 21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror, 24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. ___James chapter 2 1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also, 3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool," 4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats? 7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called? 8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well, 9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law. 12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment. 14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food, 16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that? 17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God." 24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. ___James chapter 3 1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies. 4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants. 5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind, 8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be. 11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries? Or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace. ___James chapter 4 1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members? 2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask. 3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God. 5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?" 6 But he gives more grace. So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up. 11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers. He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else? 13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit," 14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that." 16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin. ___James chapter 5 1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. 5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter. 6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you. 7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near. 9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door. 10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 See, we count them happy that endure. You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation. 13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven. 16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good. 17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him, 20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.