"Last night, a terrorist shot at a bus in Jerusalem wounding 8 people, including a pregnant 30-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man who are in critical care. We pray for their full recovery," Israel's Foreign Ministry announced.


	According<a href="https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-714649"> to news reports,</a> the baby was delivered by emergency C-section while the mother is in "serious but stable condition - in a shooting attack targeting a bus near King David's Tomb near the Western Wall on Saturday night."&nbsp;

<blockquote>
	
		According to the report, four of the injured belonged to the same family and are part of the hasidic Satmar sect and were visiting Israel from Williamsburg, New York.&nbsp;

	
		A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Jerusalem confirmed that US citizens were among the victims of the terrorist attack, but had no further comment on the matter.

	
		Yosef Chaim HaCohen, a paramedic with United Hatzalah who lives near the scene, stated, “I parked the car near the house and heard gunshots and screams. The neighbors ran to me and shouted 'terror attack.’”

	
		MDA paramedic Shimi Grossman said: “This was a bus that left the Western Wall with worshipers heading toward the city. According to a passerby, a terrorist began to shoot indiscriminately toward the bus. When I arrived there was a great commotion, people ran in panic, MDA teams treated and evacuated a 30-year-old man and a 45-year-old man in serious condition, a 30-year-old woman in serious condition, a young man about 20 years old in moderate condition and 4 injured in mild condition.”

	
		Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum praised the attack as a courageous act of resistance
</blockquote>


	The&nbsp;Islamic terrorist, allegedly a man named Amir Sidawi, has been <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/suspected-terrorist-in-jerusalem-shooting-turns-himself-into-police/">arrested</a>.

<blockquote>
	
		Those wounded in the attack included a 35-year-old pregnant woman who was shot while sitting in a nearby car, Hebrew media reported. Her abdomenal injury was described by doctors as “complex” and her life was said to be in danger. Shaare Zedek hospital said she had undergone an emergency delivery and that the newborn was in serious but stable condition.

	
		&nbsp;The family’s father was said to be in serious condition, sedated and on a respirator, while the mother was in moderate condition.

	
		“It was a very difficult scene, the blood-soaked&nbsp;tzitzit&nbsp;and abandoned baby stroller will remain in my memory for many years,” said Moshe Levy from the United Hatzalah emergency organization, referring to knotted ritual fringes worn by observant Jews.

	
		The alleged perpetrator had reportedly waited for the bus’s arrival and fired the shots while passengers were boarding, then fled on foot to Silwan.

	
		“The bus was full, jam-packed. I stopped at a bus stop at King David’s Tomb and then I heard gunfire, people started yelling, people were hurt inside the bus,” the bus driver, Daniel Kanievsky, said.

	
		The driver said he had wanted to drive away but couldn’t because passengers were helping a wheelchair-bound woman board the bus, with the lowered ramp blocking the door from closing.
</blockquote>


	So another heroic and "courageous" act of Islamic terrorism.

Islamic Terrorist Opens Fire in Jerusalem, Pregnant Woman, Americans Wounded

"Last night, a terrorist shot at a bus in Jerusalem wounding 8 people, including a pregnant 30-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man who are in critical care.

Islamic Terrorist Opens Fire in Jerusalem, Pregnant Woman, Americans Wounded

From a New York Times article trying to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/08/13/trump-mar-a-lago-search/">justify this farce</a>.

<blockquote>
	
		In the spring of 2021, the National Archives and Records Administration, the government agency charged by law with maintaining the papers of former presidents, alerted Trump’s team to a problem. In going through materials transferred from the White House in the chaotic final days of Trump’s presidency, officials had noticed that certain high-profile documents were missing. Trump’s correspondence with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that he had termed “love letters.” A National Weather Service map of Hurricane Dorian, which Trump had famously marked up with a black Sharpie pen to extend to Alabama.

	
		Under the Presidential Records Act, the items belonged to the American people. The Archives asked for them back.
</blockquote>


	We know who runs the National Archives and what they want.


	The&nbsp;National Weather Service map of Hurricane Dorian is one of those things that any proper lefty will recognize but that most conservatives have never heard of. It was one of the dumb TDS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/05/donald-trump-hurricane-dorian-alabama-1482815">obsessions</a>.

<blockquote>
	
		President Donald Trump has been widely ridiculed for insisting that Alabama faced a grave threat from Hurricane Dorian and for even showing off a&nbsp;Sharpie-doctored map&nbsp;that added the state to the storm’s potential path of destruction.

	
		But was he really wrong?
</blockquote>


	The damn map wouldn't be a priority for anyone except lefties. While foreign correspondence should be maintained, it doesn't justify this level of harassment.

<blockquote>
	
		On Jan. 17 of this year, Trump relented, allowing a contractor for the Archives to load up 15 boxes at Mar-a-Lago and truck them north to a facility in Maryland. The boxes contained some of the notable items of the Trump presidency that Archives officials had sought.
</blockquote>


	As it turned out, this was a mistake because it provided the "resistance" with the materials for planning this raid.

<blockquote>
	
		But as Archives officials sifted through the recovered documents, they began to suspect some records were still missing.&nbsp;They also realized some of the returned material was clearly classified, including highly sensitive signals intelligence — intercepted electronic communications such as emails and phone calls of foreign leaders.

	
		...&nbsp;By February, Archives officials had formally referred the matter to the Justice Department.
</blockquote>


	This was a month later.

<blockquote>
	
		“He gets his back up every time they asked him for something,” said another Trump adviser. “He didn’t give them the documents because he didn’t want to. He doesn’t like those people. He doesn’t trust those people.”
</blockquote>


	Can't imagine why.

<blockquote>
	
		In early June, a small knot of federal investigators arrived at Mar-a-Lago to discuss the document issue with Trump’s lawyers. It was clear they believed their mission was serious — the team was headed by Jay Bratt, chief of counterintelligence and export control, the division of the Justice Department that leads investigations into leaks of government secrets.

	
		Trump greeted the officials and offered a show of cooperation, said Bobb, who attended the meeting along with another lawyer for the former president, Evan Corcoran. “He pointed to the attorneys there and said, ‘anything they need, make sure they do it,’ ” she told Fox News.

	
		Bobb told The Post that the group toured the storage facility, opening boxes and flipping through the records inside. She said Justice Department officials indicated they did not believe the storage unit was properly secured, so Trump officials added a lock to the facility.
</blockquote>


	There was no reason for the escalation. This was a political move.

What the National Archives Wanted From Trump: A Weather Map

From a New York Times article trying to justify this farce.


	
		In the spring of 2021, the National Archives and Records Administration, the government

What the National Archives Wanted From Trump: A Weather Map

What does it take to get charged with first-degree attempted murder in New York?&nbsp;


	Stabbing a top target of Islamic terror <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/08/13/officials-ban-post-and-ap-from-arraignment-of-suspect-in-rushdie-attack/?lctg=6079a542373dd11b6e38368d">isn't enough</a>?

<blockquote>
	
		Authorities in upstate New York&nbsp;tried to bar the press&nbsp;from attending the arraignment of Hadi Matar, the New Jersey man accused of the stabbing of writer Salman Rushdie.
</blockquote>


	What were they trying <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/13/us/salman-rushdie-attacked-saturday/index.html">to cover up</a>?

<blockquote>
	
		The man suspected of stabbing renowned author Salman Rushdie in western New York pleaded not guilty Saturday to attempted murder in the second degree and other charges, his attorney says.
</blockquote>


	Right now this is being handled by the county prosecutor even though this is terrorism which is a federal issue. The feds poke their noses into places where they don't&nbsp;belong and then carefully avoid cases where they do.


	New York's penal code notes that murder in the second degree includes situation where "the defendant acted under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance for which there was a reasonable explanation or excuse, the reasonableness of which is to be determined from the viewpoint of a person in the defendant's situation."


	I'm not saying this is the rationale here, I don't know whether it is or not in play.


	Murder in the second degree and assault in the second degree are oddly light for what was an obvious murder attempt. Not to mention domestic terrorism.


	&nbsp;

Rushdie Stabber Only Charged With Second-Degree Attempted Murder, Authorities Try to Bar Press

What does it take to get charged with first-degree attempted murder in New York?&nbsp;


	Stabbing a top target of Islamic terror isn't enough?

Rushdie Stabber Only Charged With Second-Degree Attempted Murder, Authorities Try to Bar Press

One of the problems with federal authority is the constant overreach. Federal law enforcement was supposed to focus on cases with its purview. How is this <a href="https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/southern-baptists-say-denomination-faces-doj-investigation/">within its purview</a>?

<blockquote>
	
		The Justice Department (DOJ) has opened a federal investigation into the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the second-largest Christian domination in the country, following a report that alleged church leaders ignored survivors of sexual abuse.

	
		The DOJ investigation will include “multiple entities” of the SBC, and each entity intends to cooperate with the investigation, according to a&nbsp;statement&nbsp;from the SBC.
</blockquote>


	The DOJ had opened an investigation into sex abuse cases in the&nbsp;Catholic Church in 2018 and came up with nothing more than a defrocked priest "lying to the FBI" which is basically an admission that this was a waste of everyone's time but that the people in charge wanted to act like they had come away with something.


	The laborious grounds for a federal investigation of the Catholic Church in Philly was looking for whether priests had used child porn or if church leaders used church funds to cover up misconduct. That was somewhere between a fishing expedition and a very long reach. It was pretty obviously a case of the federal government looking for excuses to intrude into areas it had no particular reason to be. Never mind proposals to use racketeering charges.


	Using RICO against political and cultural opponents is obviously a dream.&nbsp;


	Now maybe this is all above board, but the SBC is conservative-leaning and under AG Garland, the DOJ has become a political machine targeting political opponents.


	It's unclear if the SBC investigation is national or by a local office, but either way there are basic questions about who is responsible and what the scope is. As the recent Mar-a-Lago raid reminds us, federal secrecy allows civil rights to die in darkness while political corruption thrives.


	The public deserves answers about the agendas behind the scenes.

Why is Biden's DOJ Investigating Southern Baptist Sex Allegations?

One of the problems with federal authority is the constant overreach. Federal law enforcement was supposed to focus on cases with its purview. How is this

Why is Biden's DOJ Investigating Southern Baptist Sex Allegations?

Compare Biden's statement on the Rushdie attack to his statement on the death of terror collaborator&nbsp;Jamal Khashoggi.&nbsp;

<blockquote>
	
		"Two years ago, Saudi operatives, reportedly acting at the direction of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, murdered and dismembered Saudi dissident, journalist, and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi. His offense — for which he paid with his life — was criticizing the policies of his government".
</blockquote>


	Here's Biden's statement on the recent Islamic terror attack on Salman Rushdie. See if you can spot what's missing.

<blockquote>
	
		"Jill and I were shocked and saddened to learn of the&nbsp;vicious&nbsp;attack on Salman Rushdie yesterday in New York. We, together with all Americans and people around the world, are praying for his&nbsp;health and&nbsp;recovery. I am grateful to the first responders&nbsp;and the&nbsp;brave&nbsp;individuals&nbsp;who jumped into action&nbsp;to render&nbsp;aid to Rushdie and&nbsp;subdue the attacker.&nbsp;

	
		Salman&nbsp;Rushdie—with his&nbsp;insight into humanity,&nbsp;with&nbsp;his unmatched sense for story, with his refusal to be intimidated or silenced—stands for essential,&nbsp;universal&nbsp;ideals.&nbsp;Truth. Courage.&nbsp;Resilience. The ability&nbsp;to&nbsp;share ideas&nbsp;without fear. These are the building blocks of any free and open society. And today, we reaffirm our commitment to those deeply American values in solidarity with Rushdie and all those who stand for freedom of expression."&nbsp;
</blockquote>


	There's a good deal of praise for Rushdie, but no condemnation of the attack and its backers in Iran. It would be awkward for Biden to condemn the regime he's collaborating with on a deal to legitimize its nuclear weapons program.


	And this is how you can tell what a statement is covering up about the author. Don't just look at what's there, but look at what's missing.

Biden Statement on Rushdie Attack Fails to Condemn Islamic Terrorism

Compare Biden's statement on the Rushdie attack to his statement on the death of terror collaborator&nbsp;Jamal Khashoggi.&nbsp;


	
		"Two years ago,

Biden Statement on Rushdie Attack Fails to Condemn Islamic Terrorism

[Photo above: Bishop Ridley and Latimer Burnt at one Stake at Oxford – 1555 – Granger].


	Is free speech important? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;


	Free speech laws in Western nations have supported Christians in spreading the gospel throughout the world. Free speech is a special gift that is underappreciated by all of us. But historically, for most of 2,000 years, the church has had to survive without freedom of speech. Opposition to free speech began early in the history of the church. Shortly after the church was birthed, to preach in the name of Jesus was considered forbidden speech; it was hate speech that carried the penalty of imprisonment and sometimes even death.


	Take time to reread Acts 4. Peter and John performed a miracle in the name of Jesus. But the authorities were not pleased. For this the two were arrested. When asked to defend themselves, Peter boldly proclaimed that the miracle was performed in the name of “Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified…for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:10, 12). &nbsp;


	No political correctness here. “By your agreement, you let Jesus be crucified, and if you don’t believe in Him, you have no salvation!”&nbsp;


	When Peter and John were threatened and warned to no longer speak in the name of Jesus, they answered, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (verses 19-20). Take it or leave it—your threats will not keep us from preaching the gospel!


	The martyrs before us have shown that it is not necessary to have free speech in order to be faithful. Richard Wurmbrand, in Tortured for Christ, wrote about parents who taught their children the Christian faith. “If it was discovered that they taught their children about Christ, their children were taken away from them for life—with no visitation rights.” [1]


	Of course, our speech must be with grace seasoned with salt. Free speech does not mean that we speak judgmentally to our nation as if we are free from our own weaknesses and sins. We give reason for the hope within us with respect, meekness, and fear (see 1 Peter 3:15).


	One of my heroes is the sixteenth-century Reformer Hugh Latimer. When asked to preach in front of King Henry VIII, he struggled with exactly what to say. You’ll recall that Henry had the reputation of chopping off the heads of his enemies, including two of his wives.


	As it turned out, Latimer boldly declared God’s Word, and although Henry spared his life, Henry’s daughter, Queen Mary (Bloody Mary), had him burned at the stake in Oxford. As he was dying amid the flames, he called out to Bishop Ridley, who was also consigned to the flames with him, and is quoted as saying, “Master Ridley, play the man; we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.” [2]


	The secret of boldness? Fear God more than the flames. Fear Him more than your reputation. Let us be done with fainthearted, tepid leadership. Ours is the day to “play the man” with bold, uncompromising truth and love, risking it all for God.


	We can expect views that differ from those of the thought police will be boycotted, shamed, and outed. But we will not be silenced. We will endure the shame, the ridicule, and the penalties.


	We will be heard, and we pray that the church will speak with one voice. 
	 
	*


	Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer is pastor emeritus of The Moody Church, where he served as the senior pastor for 36 years. He is an award-winning author well as the featured speaker on three radio programs heard on more than 750 national and international outlets.


	Excerpted with permission from We Will Not Be Silenced by Erwin W. Lutzer, published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR, 97408.&nbsp; Copyright 2020, Erwin W. Lutzer. <a href="http://www.harvesthousepublishers.com">www.harvesthousepublishers.com</a>


	Notes: 
	 
	[1] Richard Wurmbrand, Tortured for Christ: The 50th Anniversary Edition (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2017), 151-152. 
	 
	[2] As cited in Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (London: Seeley, Burnside, and Seeley, 1847), 126.

Is Free Speech Important?

[Photo above: Bishop Ridley and Latimer Burnt at one Stake at Oxford – 1555 – Granger].


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Islamic Terrorist Opens Fire in Jerusalem, Pregnant Woman, Americans Wounded

What the National Archives Wanted From Trump: A Weather Map

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Why is Biden's DOJ Investigating Southern Baptist Sex Allegations?

Biden Statement on Rushdie Attack Fails to Condemn Islamic Terrorism

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