Kameel Majdali's Road Ahead

Do you like eggs and fried tomatoes? If so, you’ll love shakshooka. It is a Middle Eastern dish that takes ripe, even slightly overripe tomatoes, mixes them with eggs, capsicum and spices, and, presto, you have a meal sensation. Why not give it a try? 4 ripe tomatoes or 1 small can (28 ounces) of whole peeled tomato, juice included. 1 capsicum (green, red, or yellow), diced 1 diced onion 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 4 eggs 2 sliced chilli peppers (or jalapeno), chopped finely (optional) 2 slices fresh jalapeno/chilli pepper, finely 1 teaspoon of paprika Salt & Pepper to taste Directions Heat the olive oil in a fry pan over medium heat.  Add the onion, capsicum, and garlic. Cook until soft and clear, around 5 minutes.  To this mixture add the tomatoes, paprika, chili/jalapenos, and stir. Use the spoon to crush the tomatoes. Simmer a low heat for around 30 minutes. Crack an egg into a small bowl, then gen...

In our last article, we learned that Amos, a humble Judean farmer, was raised up by God to give a heavy word to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Through his prophetic words we learn more about true justice - the kind that God approves of. Here, in Part 02, we will summarise the book and give an outline. SUMMARY Amos 1-2 begins with judgement of the neighbours, including Damascus (Syria), Gaza (Philistines), and Tyre (Phoenicia). It then aims at Israel’s cousins, including Edom, Ammon and Moab. Then Judah, the southern kingdom, and Israel, the northern kingdom, are in the cross-hairs of prophetic rebuke. Amos 3-6 speaks of judgement to the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria). This nation started off on the wrong foot from Day 01. It was through the sin of their first king, Jeroboam, who set up golden calves for worship in Bethel and Dan. Not one of his successors broke from the ‘ sin of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. ’ Thus, the seeds of the ...

In our last edition, we saw how US President Donald Trump made an impromptu visit to McLean Bible Church in Vienna, Virginia, a suburb of Washington DC. He was at the church for only 11 minutes. He received prayer from the Senior Minister, Dr. David Platt, and then quietly left the church without making any public comments. The date of the prayer: 2 June 2019, was called a Day of Prayer for the President by Franklin Graham. Dr. Platt was in a ‘no-win’ situation. He received criticism within his church because some members were ‘hurt for a variety of valid reasons’ (his words) that he prayed for the Presidents. Outside the church, he was criticised for seeking to appease those who were upset. If ever there should be a refuge from the storm, a rehoboth from the Philistines, a cave of Adullam from murderous king Saul, it should be the church. Often times it is, but sometimes the political storms within can be as intense as in the halls of parliament. Was Dr. Platt rig...

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments — Exodus 20:4-6 The 10 Commandments - so wonderfully encapsulates the highest moral, ethical and spiritual standards imaginable. Their influence is outsized by any stretch of the imagination. Our theology, the glorious gospel of Christ, and western legal foundation, find a solid foundation in these divine precepts. The first four commandments deal with God and our relationship with Him. The last six have to do with our treatment of people. As we learn, Jesus Christ summarised the 10 commandments, indeed t...

Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge — Proverbs 19:27 In learning how to respond to the civilisational culture war, what about students in universities? Are the institutions of higher education really cauldrons of radical leftist ideologies? Do they eat conservative students alive? The answer: Yes and No. It is possible as a conservative to do well in such a seemingly hostile environment (didn’t the early church thrive in the hostile first few centuries of Roman persecution?). This author is one example: a new Christian when he went to university, his faith grew dramatically while being in an academic environment which was indifferent, contrary, and at times, critical to what he believed. His academic performance was recognised and rewarded. Yes, it is possible to ‘survive and thrive’ at university, but keep these points in mind: 1.     Choose your university wisely: If you are a Christian, make a ...

Anyone who knows British history has heard of the ‘Battle for Britain,’ a military engagement with Nazi Germany during the Second World War. At the time of this writing, there is also a major conflict raging and this one is internal: the ‘Battle for Brexit.’ ‘Brexit’ means ‘British Exit’ from membership in the European Union (EU), of which they have been a member since 1973. The decision to leave the Union was decided by a public referendum in June 2016. Three years later, Britain has still not left. Attempts by the government of former British Prime Minister Theresa May to pass an EU-brokered withdrawal agreement failed three times to pass in the British Parliament. This led to Mrs. May’s resignation and replacement by Boris Johnson in July 2019. Mr. Johnson has promised to keep the extended, EU-approved, withdrawal date of 31 October 2019, whether there is a deal or not. There have been high-stakes wrangling, with Parliament voting to delay Brexit and block a ‘no dea...