Mosques

There have been many musings floating around on the Internet regarding the building of a mosque near Ground Zero. Here are a few of my thoughts regarding Islam:

First, it amazes me the level of fear expressed by America in general, and specifically Christians. I received an email just this week which spoke of different percentages of Muslims in different countries and what different percentages mean for that country. (For example, France with 8% has Muslims pushing for clean food in Supermarkets - called halal; while a place like Ethiopia with a 32.8% Muslim population has rioting, jihad militia formations and sporadic killings.) Have we forgotten already that perfect love drives out fear? I know several muslims (not so devout) who would give me the shirt off their back. Just like in Christianity, 80% do 20% of the work and 20% do 80%. In other words, just as all Christians are called out to be passionate followers of Jesus does not mean that all are. Same in Islam.

Second, what would happen if they took over the world? Does that mean Jesus will not continue to shine His light through underground Christians? So what if they kill us as believers in Jesus? There are few greater privileges than this: dying for your Friend! What an honor!

Third, Jesus did not seem very interested in politics. If He had been, He would have ousted the Romans from Israel and the world! Don't forget that the people wanted to make Him king, and He declined the offer.

Fourth, retaliating with violence and bigotry does not seem to be the answer. So we boycott our dealings with Muslims? We kill them? Sounds like we are doing the same thing to them that they are doing to us. This is not the way of Jesus.

Anyway, these are a couple of my thoughts.

What do you think?

Gone but not Forgotten

I apologize for my absence. Jamie and I have been enjoying family and friends in beautiful (and cool) Colorado this past week. I am still recuperating from the exhaustion (emotional, spiritual, and physical) we experienced, but know that it was exhaustion of a good kind.

We began our "vacation" on Saturday night with a wedding, traveled all night to baptize 3 young guys and their mother Sunday morning (in a VERY cold river), met and stayed in the homes of many people we hold dear, taught an adult class on Wednesday night, cut enough dead aspen trees to make loads of furniture, met a new "niece" (what is the daughter of your wife's first cousin called?) and spent time with great family, and then culminated the weekend with a funeral for Jamie's great-granddad on Saturday morning (he was 97!). Are you now tired for us?

A near perfect way to celebrate life (only Sabbath was missing).

To those out there in blog-sphere whom we encountered, thank you for all you do to make Jamie and my life so full of G-D's rich blessings.

And thank you, Father, for all the blessings we have in and through Jesus!!!