A public school principal in Texas who arranged for an Islamic instruction presentation for students by an organization whose leaders have been linked to terror groups apparently arranged for that indoctrination after being told not to by her district's superintendent, parents have told WND.

The issue developed this week when public school students at Friendswood Junior High in the Houston area were herded into an assembly scheduled by Principal Robin Lowe that suddenly replaced a scheduled physical education class, according to reports.

There, two women from the Houston division of the Council on American-Islamic Relations instructed students that Adam, Noah and Jesus are prophets, announced "there is one god, his name is Allah," taught the five pillars of Islam, told students how to pray five times a day, and instructed what Islamic religious rules require for dress.

Pastor Dave Welch, spokesman for the Houston Area Pastor Council, confirmed the indoctrination had taken place and called it "unacceptable."

"The failure of the principal of Friendswood Junior High to respect simple procedures requiring parental notification for such a potentially controversial subject, to not only approve but participate personally in a religious indoctrination session led by representatives of a group with well-known links to terrorist organizations and her cavalier response when confronted, raises serious questions about her fitness to serve in that role," the pastors' organization said in a statement.

A parent, whose name was withheld, reported the presentation was 30 to 40 minutes long and handled by Muslims from CAIR, which, as WND has reported, is a spinoff of the defunct Islamic Association for Palestine, launched by Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzook and former university professor Sami al-Arian, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide services to Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

It has a history of links to questionable activity. Among the convicted CAIR staffers are former communications specialist Randall Todd "Ismail" Royer, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges he trained in Virginia for holy war against the U.S. and sent several members to Pakistan to join a Kashmiri terrorist group with reported ties to al-Qaida; and Bassem Khafagi, who was arrested in January 2003 while serving as CAIR's director of community relations and convicted on fraud and terrorism charges in connection with a probe of the Islamic Assembly of North America, an organization suspected of aiding Saudi sheiks tied to Osama bin Laden. Also, in October 2006, Ghassan Elashi, a member of the founding board of directors of the Texas branch of CAIR, was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison for financial ties to a high-ranking terrorist.

Welch told WND today that parents have told him school officials confirmed to them that the principal in question had been instructed not to involve students in any such program.

A mother who had alerted some of the other parents about the situation when she discovered the circumstances told WND, "The superintendent told this principal that the children could not be part of this assembly. It happened anyway."

"The school board member I talked to … he was outraged," Welch told WND. "This is part of a nationally orchestrated effort to indoctrinate students through the school system," he said.

School officials did not return WND calls seeking a comment.

WND previously has reported how public school textbooks used across the nation have begun promoting Islam, teaching even the religious doctrines.

WND also has reported on several other schools that have taught Islam as a required subject.

In the Texas case, a school e-mail to parents provided only a half-hearted acknowledgement that such mandatory religious indoctrination might not have been the best decision.

"In hindsight, a note should have been sent home to parents indicating the purpose and content of the presentation in time for parents to contact me with questions or concerns or requests to exempt their child," the note from Lowe said. "This will be our practice in the future, should we ever have another presentation of a similar nature."

The apparent goal of the "Islamic Awareness" presentation was "to increase understanding of the Islamic culture in response to racially motivated comments that have been made to students on campus."

The pastors noted that the principal's claim there were "comments" to students on campus was unverified. Nor does that excuse or justify "this infringement upon the religious beliefs of students and parents of the community nor the violation of school policy and possibly state and/or federal law," they said.

"We do not believe that this unapproved action by Principal Robin Lowe represents the school district and certainly not the majority of students or parents in the Friendswood community. Our commitment is to support all appropriate administrative, legal and political remedies to assure that this will not happen again and these Islamic activist organizations are kept out of our schools," the pastors said.

The parent reported Lowe told students her sister, niece and nephew were Muslim.

But the parent complained the Muslims "were given full attention of our kids, during academic school time, to present their religious beliefs. … This was put right at the end of the school year … which will most likely prevent a Christian response.

"The kids did not even know they were having an assembly or what topic it pertained to until they entered the gym," the parent wrote. "I send my kids to school for academics. … I teach them religion at home."

Noted a WND reader: "All I could think while reading this was what would have happened to this school had it been Christianity being taught?

Where was the ACLU, or is this not a worthy cause to that organization?

Jesus is coming soon!  The events unfolding before our eyes speak volumes in agreement with the words Jesus spoke in the endtime prophecies concerning His return for His Bride.
 
"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth."  Revelation 3:10

"Behold, I come quickly:" Revelation 22:7

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

There is rest in knowing the Lord's coming is soon.  Just imagine what perfect peace, what eternal rapture, what joy, what rest, what consolation in knowing that we are forever present with our Bridegroom, never to face temptation, or trial, or tribulation again for all of eternity!!!  Blessed and glorious thought!

He is giving the Church, as well as the world, the opportunity to be purified from all sin and idolatry, now, but as we see the signs of His coming unfolding, the time grows shorter with each passing day. Whatever keeps us from watching, praying, and looking for His return for us will quickly become an idol, if we allow it to.  To the Bride of Christ, what on this earth could be more important than our fellowship with Him and our love for Him?  Does the Lord expect less from His Bride than an earthly groom does?  I think not! 

Jesus is coming for a bride who adores and worships Him alone.  Those Christians who allow themselves to be distracted by the cares of this world, the devil, the things of this world, ministries, anything that is more important to them than Jesus, will be left to go through the seven years of tribulation, many becoming martyrs under the cruel reign of the anti-Christ. 

We can be assured of our readiness to go with Jesus by watching, praying, and loving His appearance, looking for His imminent return, keeping ourselves unspotted from this world.  We are in this world, but we are not of it, in Jesus' words.  These instructions are given throughout the teachings of Jesus and of Paul, John, as well as Peter.  Many scriptures written by the holy prophets of old foretell the coming of Jesus for His waiting Bride.

If we cannot truthfully say that we are watching, praying, and loving the appearance of Jesus, to be carried away with Him as His Bride, we should get on our faces before the Lord and ask Him to cleanse us of any idolatry, whatever form it may take, commune with the Lord in prayer daily, and ask Him to put a love for His return for us in our hearts.  He is waiting for us to come away with Him and be cleansed, be instructed by the Holy Spirit, Who speaks the same thing as the Father and the Son, and to be infused with a deeper love for the Lord than we have ever known before.  He will put more of His love into our hearts, because He is love.  Jesus never leaves us without His Word which is His Way.  He is the Way.

Betty Seiley

Behold, the Bridegroom Comes!

by Betty Seiley


How merciful the Lord is in giving us the hope of His second coming to brighten the gloom of a darkening world!  Terrorism has become a household word in almost every part of the globe.  The time has surely come that we, those of us who know Jesus, must press into His Presence closer and closer every day in order to separate ourselves from the darkness of this world which has spread like a beast from the deep, with its searching tentacles, trying to capture innocent souls for its prey.  Jesus called it "this present, evil world." Take heart! Though the earth grows darker by the moment, these are indications that the Lord is at hand, "even at the doors."  Matthew 24:32-33  There are many Christians today who have been seduced away from the teaching of the return of the Lord for His Bride at the harpadzo, or catching away of the Bride who joyfully anticipates the return of the Bridegroom.  The scriptures plainly warn us of this false belief that has arisen about the coming of the Lord. 

"2That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

 3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

 5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

 7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."  2 Peter 3:2-7

We must "be vigilant, knowing that the devil roams about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, whom resist steadfast in the faith" 1 Peter 5:8-9.  This is how we stay in Truth, by not following  doctrines and teachings that depart from the Word of God.  It plainly tells us that in the last days, there will be seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, leading believers away from the faith of God's Word.  1 Timothy 4:1



As we stay with Jesus, the Word of God, we will not be deceived, following false doctrines.  Jesus is the Truth, the Life, and the Way.  We are to carry the Light from His Word to every corner of this gasping world, bringing His hope, faith, and love.   Light always dispels darkness, and there are many souls waiting for a glimpse of one ray of the light of Jesus, and it may come through you. Tell people of the soon return of Jesus, as He promised in the Word of God over and over again.


The nearness of the Lord's coming is wonderful consolation for His Beloved Bride.  This blessed hope of the the Church, as seen in the daily lives of the first century Christians, became crystallized in their watchword, "Maranatha!" which is Greek for "the Lord cometh!"  1 Cor. 16:22 "Maranatha" was a password they used when Christians had to hold their meetings in secret, as in the days of the catacombs in Rome. They greeted each other with this exclamation. Possibly, some of the Christians who are suffering horrific persecution for their faith in this day greet each other with, "Maranatha!" Come, Lord Jesus, come!


In this time of growing darkness in the world, the Church of the Lord Jesus is to be a bright beacon of light to those who stagger in darkness. "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee." Isaiah 60:1-2  People are looking for the Light.  As the darkness becomes darker, the light of the glory of the Lord upon His Church is to shine brighter and brighter unto that day.


The brilliance of Jesus is like a lighthouse to a ship in the gathering night and fog. "The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, (the faithful Church filled with His power), because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek, (or teachable); He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn." Isaiah 61:1-2 The acceptable year of the Lord is the Jubilee, celebrated by Israel every fifty years, when all debts were cancelled, slaves were set free, and there was great joy throughout the land.


Jesus is the fulfillment of the Jubilee. Since Resurrection Morning, when He rose from the dead on the third day, the Jubilee for all who believe in, rely on, and adhere to Him, has been in effect. What glorious news! We have been set free from all bondage of the enemy, all bondage to the world, the flesh, and the devil through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord in His atoning death, burial, and resurrection. We died unto ourselves and to the world with Him, we were buried with Him, and we rose with Him to walk in newness of life. Paul said in Galatians 6:14, "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." "Sin shall not have dominion over you." Romans 6:14  Neither sin, the world, the flesh, nor the devil has any power over us as we abide in Jesus, and He abides in us. Jesus is our Jubilee!!!



Do you feel that the world or the things of the world, sin, or your carnal nature are preventing the blessed hope of Jesus' return from comforting you in the gathering darkness?  The Word of God is very plain that these things have no power over a Christian.  Do houses, lands, money, sin, or family have a greater hold on you than the Lord?  When we surrender all we are, all we have, all we ever hope to be, and all which we are not, to Him, the hold of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the cares of life are broken by the power of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.  Jesus' sacrifice for you broke the back of all evil over your life.   Mix your faith with the Word, and you shall be free from this world's hold on you, and enjoy the blessed hope of the Church, which is the return of Jesus Christ, our Lord, to take us where He is, to be with Him forever.



In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit shines His light on the pathway of the Church until the Lord's return - a truth which is mentioned at least 300 times in prediction, parable and promise.  The book of Revelation focuses all these rays of truth upon the person of our Glorified Lord, the One who appeared once "to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself," and is coming again, "the second time, not having to bear our sins, unto salvation." Hebrews 9:26, 28  He came as a Babe in a manger the first time, born to die for all mankind, but, in His soon return, He will come as the Bridegroom, first, then, as the Conquering King and Judge, ruling the nations with awe-inspiring authority.  He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah!



In light of these truths, imminence of Jesus' return becomes a motivator for the Church because of the Great Commission. We do not know the day nor the hour of his return, only the Father in heaven knows.  But we know He is coming.  The same Bible that shows us the plan of salvation and gives us the promises of God of blessing in our lives, also promises the imminent return of Jesus, in a day when the signs of His coming abound worldwide.  Matthew 24  "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, behold, I AM with you alway, even to the end of the world. Amen." Matthew 28:18-20



"32Now learn a parable of the fig tree (Israel); When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

 33So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

 34Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

 35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

 36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

 37But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

 38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

 40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

 41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

 42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

 43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

 44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

 45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

 46Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

 47Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

 48But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

 49And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

 50The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

 51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  Matthew 24:32-51

Help us all, Lord!


Watching for Jesus, 
Betty Seiley


www.revivalwaters.net