What Do Frankincense, Christians and Bees Have In Common?

My answer: They are all precious, and they are disappearing in some parts of the world. Frankincense is destroyed by greedy money worshipers, Christians are exterminated by diabolic extremist Muslims, and technology, Cellphones, in particular, could be killing Bees all over the world. These phenomenons should be of great concern to the whole world, as Frankincense, Christians and Bees are an indicator species and their disappearance could signal greater environmental and spiritual problems

What will save the frankincense tree?

They are the most famous Christmas presents in history, and roll off the tongue as easily as the alphabet: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Every child still learns all about gold from a young age, but how many adults could tell you about those other holy stocking-fillers?

Both are aromatic resins, made from tree sap. When Jesus was born, they cost roughly the same as gold. Now they are hundreds of times cheaper than the precious metal, and are still grown in reasonable quantities around the Middle East.

That might be changing, however. Myrrh, made from the Commiphora tree, is relatively stable, but frankincense is in the grip of a serious crisis. Over-exploitation, changing land use and a destructive beetle are killing its source tree, Boswellia sacra. Some scientists estimate that without intervention the species could be all but eradicated within 50 years, severing a living botanical connection to the past that is rich in religious and economic history.

Recently, however, several factors have come together to pose a serious threat to Boswellia. Research led by Dutch scientist Professor Frans Bongers of Wageningen University in Holland, published last year, showed that commercial Boswellia was in danger of extinction. He says that the situation is only getting worse. Trees across Ethiopia, where most commercial frankincense originates, are dying at an alarming rate.

What is more, farmers are turning to more profitable crops such as sesame and cotton, and clearing their Boswellia forests. “Demand is falling, but the price is still rising,” says Prof Bongers. “The farmers are having to use a greater land area for the same yield.” Frankincense is a tiny crop by world standards, with Ethiopia exporting around 5,000 tons per year: mostly to China for use in medicines and perfumes. The entire Catholic Church uses just 50 tons a year.

Frankincense and myrrh are among the oldest internationally traded commercial tree products. Ethiopia is worldwide the main producer of frankincense and myrrh

Source: The Telegraph

Christianity ‘close to extinction’ in Middle East

Christianity faces being wiped out of the “biblical heartlands” in the Middle East because of mounting persecution of worshippers, according to a new report.

The study warns that Christians suffer greater hostility across the world than any other religious group.

And it claims politicians have been “blind” to the extent of violence faced by Christians in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

The most common threat to Christians abroad is militant Islam, it says, claiming that oppression in Muslim countries is often ignored because of a fear that criticism will be seen as “racism”.

It warns that converts from Islam face being killed in Saudi Arabia, Mauritania and Iran and risk severe legal penalties in other countries across the Middle East.

“A far less widely grasped fact is that Christians are targeted more than any other body of believers.”

It cites estimates that 200 million Christians, or 10 per cent of Christians worldwide, are “socially disadvantaged, harassed or actively oppressed for their beliefs.”

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Important footnotes:

They came for the Jews, and no one spoke up. Now they are coming for the Christians, and who is speaking up? When will they come for the atheists? the secular humanists? and each of the other religions in the world? If you don’t speak up now, who will speak up for you?

Please speak up now and sign a White House Petition to protect Christians in the Middle East

The website Orthodox Christian Laity has posted an appeal to Orthodox Christians in the U.S. to sign a petition to protect Christians in the Middle East.

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