Blog for Pakistan Christians

Check out my new blog about Christians in Pakistan. It's a place where you can hear stories and learn about what life is like for Pakistani Christians in their own words. I'll likely be updating it two to three times per week depending on how many stories and updates I receive.
http://www.pakistanchristians.blogspot.com

Disobeying Caesar

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about the concept of Civil Disobedience. We all know that when it comes to unjust laws, we're supposed to obey God and not man. The classic text for this is Acts 4:19 where Peter and John defend their right to continue preaching in the name of Jesus. Preaching the gospel in countries that forbid evangelism is an obvious form of civil disobedience. My wife and I have done this in the past and we continue to support those doing that today. So, in one sense, we're breaking man-made laws, but we're obeying a higher law.

But what about other forms of disobedience that aren't dealt with specifically in the Scriptures? Did Peter and John set a precedent that goes beyond preaching the gospel when the powers that be forbid it? We can say that Corrie Ten Boom practiced Civil Disobedience by hiding Jews in her house during the time the Nazis occupied her country, and we all see her as a hero for that, but that's an obvious example where the other option would have been to actively participate in an injustice.

But what about the form of Civil Disobedience that purposely pushes the envelope to challenge unjust laws that aren't so obvious? In Shane Claibourne's book "Jesus for President", Claibourne talks about how a group of Christian activists challenged a law in Philadelphia that forbade people from feeding the homeless. As a form of protest, Claibourne and a group of friends went to a park and held a "communion" service with the homeless-the communion being in the form of Pizza and grape juice. After they were arrested, they went to trial and the judge challenged the constitutionality of the law. The key to the story is that Claibourn and his friends didn't try to evade the consequences for their actions, but worked within the system already in place. Another example of civil disobedience is when Rosa Parks sat in front of the bus reserved for white people only but didn't refuse arrest when the police came to get her. This helped launch the Civil Rights movement.

Perhaps the most inspirational example of forcing direct confrontation with the law comes in Martin Luther King's essay, Letter from a Birmingham Jail. This is considered one of the most important essays in America history and, if you haven't read it, you should. It's not very long, but it will definitely make you think. In the essay, King challenges a group of white pastors in Alabama who also believed that black people should live in equality, but they felt that King's approach of pushing direct confrontation with the law (through protests, boycotts, sit-ins) was a distraction from the higher calling of preaching the gospel. The eerie part about it is the pastors King was challenging in the essay were not racist, they were simply indifferent. Not to in any way put myself in the same category, but many people felt the same way about me when I went to Israel to spend time with Palestinians and then came home and spoke out about the injustices I saw. A significant amount of people thought it was wrong for me to do what I did because the purpose of my trip was not specifically to preach the gospel to the Palestinians. I've defended my actions by saying, "Of course we should preach the gospel to Palestinians. I just think we're being inconsistent when we tell a people "Jesus loves you" on one hand and then turn a blind eye as they're driven out of their shops, orchards, and homes.

Am I right or wrong?


In Acts 17:6-7, we read:

"But when they did not find them, they dragged jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, 'These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another King-Jesus."

There's a lot in this passage, but what I want to focus on is the part that says the early Christians were accused of "acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar." Could this be a biblical basis for civil disobedience in addition to the classical example of Peter and John disobeying the decree not to preach in the name of Jesus? Is it possible that the early Christians occasionally pushed the envelope to disobey laws that they believed were contrary to the higher law of love? If so, then what are some of the ways that Christians can challenge unjust laws and structures today?

Talk amongst yourselves!

P.S. As I reread this post, I realized that I'm talking about two issues. The first issue is civil disobedience, which is the act of disobeying unjust laws or pushing the envelope to challenge unjust laws. The second issue with the Palestinians isn't about whether we should preach the gospel or work for social justice, but the question of whether we can we preach the gospel to a people while at the same time denying their struggle (like the White pastors did with blacks and like many Christians do with Palestianians....They say you can preach the gospel to them, but don't get involved in any sort of struggle for justice on their behalf)

Muslims converting to Christianity

Here's an article written by Chuck Colson

In church yesterday, as you celebrated Easter, did you notice anything—or anyone—unusual?
In churches all over the world, there were millions of people celebrating the resurrection of Christ, who were not there just a few years ago—because they were worshipping in a mosque instead.


Journalist Magdi Allam holds a candle after being baptised by Pope Benedict XVI during a Easter Vigil mass in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican March 22, 2008. Pope Benedict led the world's Catholics into Easter on Saturday at a Vatican service where he baptised Allam, a Muslim-born convert who is one of Italy's most famous and controversial journalists. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli (VATICAN)
Related Media:
VIDEO: Pope Baptizes Prominent Muslims at Easter Vigil
It is thrilling evidence that God is doing a mighty work among Muslims.
According to the website Islam Watch, in Russia, some two million ethnic Muslims converted to Christianity last year. Ten thousand French Muslims converted, as did 35,000 Turkish Muslims. In India, approximately 10,000 people abandoned Islam for Christianity.
In his book Epicenter, author Joel Rosenberg details amazing stories of Muslims converting to Christianity. In Algeria, the birthplace of St. Augustine, more than 80,000 Muslims have turned to Christ in recent years. This, despite the stiff opposition from Islamic clerics who have passed laws banning evangelism.
In Morocco, newspaper articles openly worry that 25,000 to 40,000 Muslims have become followers of Christ in recent years.
The stories are even more amazing in the heart of the Middle East. In 1996, the Egyptian Bible Society sold just 3,000 video copies of the JESUS film. In the year 2000, they sold an incredible 600,000 copies.
In Sudan, as many as five million Muslims have accepted Christ since the early 1990s, despite horrific persecution of Christians by the Sudanese government. What is behind the mass conversions? According to a Sudanese evangelical leader, “People have seen real Islam, and they want Jesus instead.”
In Iraq, “More than 5,000 Muslim converts to Christianity have been identified since the end of major combat operations,” says Islam Watch. And just a few days ago, the first-ever Roman Catholic church was consecrated in Qatar, a Sunni Muslim state where the Wahhabi brand of Islam is practiced. This was the first time Christians in Qatar have been allowed to practice their faith openly. Ten thousand people attended the opening mass.
These conversions have not escaped the notice of Islamic leaders. In 2001, Sheikh Ahmad Al Qatanni, a leading Saudi cleric, delivered the disturbing news on Al-Jazeera: Every day, he said, “16,000 Muslims convert to Christianity . . . every year, that is six million Muslims becoming Christians . . . A tragedy has happened.” It is possible the sheikh was inflating his numbers to incite a reaction against Christianity. But clearly, something is happening.
How thrilling to learn that so many Muslims have been set free from the chains of their sins—just as you and I have—by the power of Christ’s blood! We must pray for these new brothers and sisters; many are being violently persecuted for their new-found faith.
These millions of conversions give us one more reason to rejoice this Easter season. Yes, we may be in a great clash of civilizations; battling Islamo-fascists who threaten to kill us. And the future may at times look bleak. But never despair: God is on His throne, bringing people into His kingdom from the very heart of Islam.

Power to the people!

Bonjour blogging buds,

I received this e-mail a few days back and I've decided to post it because I think it's a good example of real people coming up with a way to solve a real problem without relying on institutionalized power brokers (aka...politicians) to do the job for us.

THIS IS NOT THE 'DON'T BUY' GAS FOR ONE DAY, BUT IT WILL SHOW YOU HOW WE CAN GET GAS BACK DOWN TO $1.30 PER GALLON.

This was sent by a retired Coca Cola executive. It came from one of his engineer buddies who retired from Halliburton. If you are tired of the gas prices going up AND they will continue to rise this summer, take time to read this please.

Phillip Hollsworth offered this good idea.
This makes MUCH MORE SENSE than the "don't buy gas on a certain day" campaign that was going around last April or May!
It's worth your consideration. Join the resistance!!!!

I hear we are going to hit close to $ 4.00 a gallon by next summer and it might go higher!! Want gasoline prices to come down?

We need to take some intelligent, united action. The oil companies just laughed at that because they knew we wouldn't continue to "hurt" ourselves by refusing to buy gas.

It was more of an inconvenience to us than it was a problem for them.
BUT, whoever thought of this idea, has come up with a plan that can Really work. Please read on and join with us!

By now you're probably thinking gasoline priced at about $2.00 is super cheap. Me too! It is currently $2.98 for regular unleaded in my town.

Now that the oil companies and the OPEC nations have conditioned us to think that the cost of a gallon of gas is CHEAP at $1.50 - $1.75, we need to take aggressive action to teach them that BUYERS control the marketplace...not sellers.

With the price of gasoline going up more each day, we consumers need to take action.

The only way we are going to see the price of gas come down is if we hit someone in the pocketbook by not purchasing their gas! And, we can do that WITHOUT hurting ourselves.

How? Since we all rely on our cars, we can't just stop buying gas.

But we CAN have an impact on gas prices if we all act together to force a price war.

Here's the idea: For the rest of this year, DON'T purchase ANY gasoline from the two biggest companies (which now are one), EXXON and MOBIL.

If they are not selling any gas, they will be inclined to reduce their prices. If they reduce their prices, the other companies will have to follow suit.

But to have an impact, we need to reach literally millions of Exxon and Mobil gas buyers. It's really simple to do! Now, don't wimp out on me at this point...keep reading and I'll explain how simple it is to reach millions of people!!

I am sending this note to 30 people. If each of us send it to at least ten more (30 x 10 = 300) .. and those 300 send it to at least ten more (300 x 10 = 3,000)...and so on, by the time the message reaches the sixth group of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION consumers.
If those three million get excited and pass this on to ten friends each, then 30 million people will have been contacted!

If it goes one level further, you guessed it..... THREE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE!!!

Again, all you have to do is send this to 10 people. That's all!

(If you don't understand how we can reach 300 million and all you have to do is send this to 10 people.... Well, let's face it, you just aren't a mathematician. But I am . so trust me on this one.

How long would all that take? If each of us sends this e-mail out to ten more people within one day of receipt, all 300 MILLION people could conceivably be contacted within the next 8 days!!!

I'll bet you didn't think you and I had that much potential, did you!
Acting together we can make a difference.

If this makes sense to you, please pass this message on. I suggest that we not buy from EXXON/MOBIL UNTIL THEY LOWER THEIR PRICES TO THE $2.00 RANGE AND KEEP THEM DOWN. THIS CAN REALLY WORK.

Viva la revolution!

Aaron

Obama heals hundreds?

"Do not put your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help" (Psalms 146:3)

I saw a hilarious parody about the quasi-religious Obama zeal (even among some evangelicals) on Lark News the other day. Lark news is an evangelical website that, surprisingly, makes fun of evangelicals. The site shows Obama reaching out to adoring fans similar to a healing evangelist laying hands on miracle seekers. The headline reads "Obama heals hundreds"

Classic!

I think all of us need to have a healthy skepticism when it comes to earthly rulers, and that goes for the left and the right.

If our nation is to be saved, it will be saved through the power of the cross, not the power of the vote.

Don't call me a racist! (thoughts on Obama's speech)

As a freelance missionary, a social critic, and (I should add) a self-professed moral failure; I watched Obama's speech this morning with great interest. I couldn't help but thinking to myself that I was witnessing a profound moment in history, something that would have been unthinkable 40, 30, or even 20 years ago. I've never publicly endorsed a political candidate and I don't plan on doing so here (to be quite frank, I have some serious disagreements with the Senator on a variety of issues), but what I heard in the Senator's speech this morning was a man who is both caucasian and African-American (howbeit African-American in a non-traditional sense) pleading with members of both races to look past their prejudices, abandon the politics of discontentment, and unite under a common vision for the good of all.

As a white American evangelical, I've clearly grown up on one side of the discontentment divide. My politically conservative Christian background has taught met to emphasize personal responsibility in the political sphere, but eschew racism in the private sphere. The way this usually translates on the white side of the discontentment divide goes something like this:

"I'm sick and tired of black people (and other minorities) getting special treatment just because of what my ancestors did. If there are racial inequalities in our country between black people and white people, then it's their own damn fault and-for the love of God-I'm sick and tired of being called a racist!"

Given my racial and socio-economic status, I can understand this sentiment very well and, ironically, Obama seems to understand it too, which is why he didn't condemn this type of thinking outright in his speech. Rather than pointing his finger at white discontentment as an example of systemic racism, Obama put the blame on special interest groups and corporate greed. While one can easily disagree with this analysis, depending on whatever side of the political divide you find yourself on, it's not so easy to dismiss the fact that, for the first time that I can think of, a formidable black candidate for the President of the United States has officially given voice to white discontentment-without using the wrath provoking word "racist." To further drive home the point, Obama spoke of his white grandmother who loved him, cared for him, played a significant role in raising him, and occasionally gave voice to racially insensitive stereotypes. Obama's point, which was in no uncertain terms relevant to the current Jeremiah Wright debacle, is simply this: people are more complex than than the sum of their racial discontentment.

The hallmark of the speech for me was when Obama addressed the history behind the current economic and achievement divide between black people and white people in the U.S.A. I've known for a while that the violence in the ghettos, the breakdown of the black family, and whatever other deficiencies currently present in black culture aren't simply a matter of black inferiority verses white superiority, but there are historical factors that have produced the situation today. The problem has been that I've never been able to explain these historical factors to the average discontented white male (including myself). This is where the speech struck the deepest note in me:

Understanding this reality requires a reminder of how we arrived at this point. As William Faulkner once wrote, 'the past isn't dead and buried. In fact, it isn't even past.' We do not need to recite here the history of racial injustices in this country, but we do need to remind ourelves that so many of the disparities that exist between the African American community and the larger American community today can be traced directly to inequalities passed on from an earlier generation that suffered under the brutal legacy of slavery and Jim Crow.

Segregated schools were and are inferior schools. We still haven't fixed them 50 years after Brown Vs Board of Education and the inferior education they provided, then and now, helps explain the pervasive achievement gap between todays black and white students. Legalized discrimination , where blacks were prevented often through violence from owning property, where loans were not granted to African American business owners, where black home owners could not access FHA mortgages, where blacks were excluded from unions, or the police force, or the fire department, meant that black families could not amass any meaningful wealth to bequeath to future generations. That history helps to explain the wealth and income gap between blacks and whites and the concentrated pockets of poverty that persists in so many of today's urban and rural communities.

A lack of economic opportunity among black men and the shame and frustration that came from not being able to provide for one's family contributed to the erosion of black families, a problem that welfare policies for many years may have worsened. And the lack of basic service in so many urban black neighborhoods, parks for kids to play in, police walking the beat, regular garbage pick up, building code enforcement, all helped create a cycle of violence, blight, and neglect that continues to haunt us.

In sum, I didn't agree with everything that Obama had to say in his speech(especially when it came to his one- sided statement putting the blame solely on radical Islam and none on Israel for the current problems in the Middle East), but, on the whole, I think it was an important speech that everyone in our nation needs to hear. Rather than just playing to one side of the racial divide, Obama challenged white people to understand the roots of black anger and black people to get past their anger and take personal responsibility for their lives. Perhaps there really is something to this "removing the plank from your own eye" business a humble carpenter from Nazareth stated so beautifully 2,000 years ago.

Holidays and Sabbaths

Question:

Aaron,

Got one for you.

Should Christians celebrate unbiblical holidays like Christmas and Easter given that the holidays that they were based on were pagan holidays?

If we celebrate with the right intentions, does it make it alright? Or, is it harmless and a matter of celebrating holidays that are part of our culture? Or, should we avoid these holidays completely because of their pagan roots?

Furthermore/additionally, how should we as Christians respond to the regulations of Jewish law given that Jesus said he did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it? I am familiar with the passage regarding the decision the early believers came to regarding no eating blood, no sexual sin and no strangled animals. Is that all of the Jewish law that we can be expected to follow? Then why do many believers feel like tithing is a command since it comes from the Old Covenant system?

Perhaps you have addressed some of these before; feel free to direct me to older responses to these questions if the responses already exist.

Answer:

Toby,

Thank you for your questions. Sorry it's taken me a while to get back to you. Since you've asked me two different questions, I'll have to give an answer to each one separately.

As to the first question of should a Christian celebrate holidays with pagan roots, I'll give the answer a qualified yes. The reason I qualify my answer is because I think the answer is up to the individual. I've met sincere Christians who refuse to celebrate Christmas and Easter for the very reasons you've mentioned and I think that for them, they shouldn't celebrate these holidays because they would be violating their conscience in doing so and the Bible tells us, "whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23).

A good frame of reference for this question is I Corinthians chapter 8. In this chapter Paul deals with the question of whether Christians could eat meat sold in the meat market that had been sacrificed to idols. Paul makes it clear that idols are actually nothing (Vs 4-5) so there's really no problem eating food previously offered to idols (Vs 8), that is, unless someone eats with the consciousness of the idol and, thus defiles their conscience (Vs 7,10,11). Paul makes it clear that those who eat the meat are no better and neither are those who refuse to eat the meat any worse (Vs 8). In other words, it's a matter of individual choice.

I think the same thing applies to the holidays with pagan roots. I think if we asked Paul this question, he would answer with something along the lines of, "Well, when you celebrate Christmas and Easter, are you celebrating the birth and resurrection of Jesus or are you participating in a pagan ritual to celebrate the change of seasons?" If you're not actually worshiping a pagan god, or feel that you are doing so, then I say deck the halls and pass the egg nog! (See also Romans 14:1-6).

As to the second question, I'll give you a much more direct answer. The answer is a Christian isn't obligated to follow any of the Jewish Law except for that which is reinforced in the New Testament. According to the writer of Hebrews, the entire Old Covenant is, and I quote, "obsolete" (Hebrews 8:13). A believer is not under the law of Moses, but under the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2)(John1:17). There are tons of verses in the New Testament that say either the law has been cancelled (Ephesians 2:15, Colossians 2:14) or that the believer is no longer under the law (Galatians 5:1-5, Romans 6:14) Romans 7:13 even goes so far as to say that a Christian is "delivered" from the law.

Notice also Colossians 2:16-17 which says, "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ." Those who think they are more spiritual than other Christians because they follow Jewish festivals, kosher laws, and sabbaths (I've seen a few TBN preachers that emphasize these things heavily) are flat mistaken!

As to why are there so many Christians who feel that tithing is the 11th commandment next to thou shalt not drink a marguarita, I think it's because they spend more time watching American Idol than reading the Bible.

I hope this helped.

Keep the faith!

A strange antichrist

Throughout the centuries, few Biblical characters have captured the imagination and fostered speculation more than the antichrist. Everybody wants to know who the antichrist is. Some of the most common suspects are the head of the United Nations or the European Union. Lately there's been a lot of speculation that the antichrist will be an Islamic cleric (go figure). I've heard everything from Gorbechav to Ronald Reagan to Oprah Winfrey, but historically the most common suspect is none other than the head of the Catholic Church.

It's not too difficult to guess why Martin Luther might have thought of the Pope as the antichrist, given the power of the papacy at the time, but even in our modern era where the Papacy no longer holds the position as the head of the Holy Roman Empire,the idea of the Pope as the antichrist still holds resonance with a lot of people. Who knows how many books have been written to prove that the Papacy is the Whore of Babylon. Even Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkin's Left Behind series portrays a future pope as head of a one world religion during the period known as the Great Tribulation. Or how about the Jack Chick publications that show the Pope with horns and a pitchfork?

I'm about halfway through reading Pope Benedict's book "Jesus of Nazareth" and all I can say is if the current Pope is the antichrist, or is in someway preparing the world to receive the antichrist, then that would make for a very strange antichrist. The antichrist I learned about in Sunday School is supposed to rise to the top of the political food chain by wooing the world with promises of peace and prosperity. It doesn't seem like this Pope is all that interested in building a utopia.

Here's a sample of his writings:

"Moral posturing is part and parcel of temptation. It does not invite us directly to do evil-no, that would be far too blatant. It pretends to show us a better way, where we finally abandon our illusions and throw ourselves into the work of actually making the world a better place. It claims, moreover, to speak for true realism: What's real is what is right there in front of us-power and bread. By comparison, the things of God fade into unreality, into a secondary world that no one really needs. God is the issue: Is he real, reality itself, or isn't he? Is he good, or do we have to invent the good ourselves?"

"The Christian Empire or the secular power of the papacy is no longer a temptation today, but the interpretation of Christianity as a recipe for progress and the proclamation of universal prosperity as the real goal of all religions, including Christianity-this is the modern for of the same temptation."

"No kingdom of this world is the Kingdom of God, the total condition of mankind's salvation. Earthly kingdoms remain earthly human kingdoms, and anyone who claims to be able to establish the perfect world is the willing dupe of Satan and plays the world right into his hands."

"The temptation to use power to secure the faith has arisen again and again in varied forms throughout the centuries, and again and again faith has risked being suffocated in the embrace of power. The struggle for freedom of the Church, the struggle to avoid identifying Jesus' Kingdom with any political structure, is one that has to be fought century after century. For the fusion of faith and political power always comes at a price: faith becomes a servant of power and must bend to its criteria"

Is it possible that the head of the Catholic Church (aka the devil incarnate according to many) might have a thing or two to teach us Protestants about the marriage of the Church and political power?

What is this world coming to?

A Biblical butt kick!!

I got my butt kicked the other day. No, it wasn't by a guy named "Biff" (think Back to the Future) and neither was I cage-fighting with Kip (think Napolean Dynamite) , rather it was by a guy named Paul, more specifically the Apostle Paul. Here's the verse that's given me my Biblical butt kick for the week:

Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God

When I read this word immediately it seemed to leap out from the page and grab me in the gut. Paul didn't waste any time telling people about Jesus. After his conversion, he immediately launched out with a single-minded vision to save as many souls as possible. He didn't wait on the more "mature" Christians like we have today who would have told him, "Now Paul. We know you're a baby Christian, but before you go out trying to save the world, you should remember to wait on the Lord for His perfect timing. Once you grow and develop in the things of the Lord, you will be better prepared to let your light shine to those who haven't heard."

God forgive us for losing our sense of urgency!!

The God of Aaron

I know it's been a while since I've written. Don't really have an excuse, just been busy being busy even if the business hasn't accomplished all that I've liked-but that's another story.

I had another late night last night. For some reason, when I can't sleep I like to go out to my living room and lay on the couch. I'll usually either spend a few minutes with the Lord or fall asleep within the hour-or both.

As I was focusing my mind on the Lord, I began to reflect on the awesome privilege it is to claim that the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and David, all of these great heroes of the faith-is my God as well. The same God that inspired Moses to lead the people out of Egypt, the same God that called David when he was just a shepherd boy and inspired him to the throne of Israel, the same God who always stuck up for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, no matter how naughty they behaved at times, that is my God.

In the Old Testament, God often identifies Himself with His people. I am the God of Abraham or "the God of Jacob" is my refuge. Jesus picks up on this point to say that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Isn't it awesome that God chooses to identify Himself with human beings? That's the one thing that sets Biblical faith apart from every other religion. God isn't distant, but intensely personal.


I started saying to myself "God is the God of Aaron" as if "God of Aaron" belongs in the same category as "God of Abraham" or "God of Moses" or "God of David." As I began to say this, I felt a warmth and acceptance that I haven't felt in a while, realizing that God isn't ashamed to identify Himself with me.

Isn't that what the gospel is all about? God identifying with people?

As jumbled as these thoughts are, I have a feeling that if you meditate on this a while, it'll increase your faith.

Still fighting the good fight,

Aaron

General Butt Naked

Here's another interesting story from Mission News Catalyst.

One of Liberia's most notorious rebel commanders, known as 'General Butt Naked' for charging into battle wearing only boots, has returned to confess his role in terrorizing the nation, saying he is responsible for 20,000 deaths. But in the middle of this, he had an encounter with Christ.

The atrocities he and his men committed during the Liberian civil war included magical rituals that involved slaughtering children and eating their hearts. Joshua Milton Blahyi spared no details as he told Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) last week of his years with one of the most feared militias of the war.

He also shared how in the middle of this he had a head-on encounter with Christ, that marked the beginning of his ministry as a pastor. "Jesus appeared to me and asked me to stop being a slave." It was this experience, he said, that prompted his religious conversion and his life since then, travelling the country preaching his Christian message. Blahyi, 37, said it was for the TRC to decide whether he should be given an amnesty or prosecuted. "I am willing to go to court if necessary," he said. "And I will repeat just what I said here."

A chief's vision leads 1,000 Muslims to Christ

The following report is from Caleb Project's Mission News Catalyst. Enjoy!

They have seemed harder to win because until recently, so little of the church's material or personnel resources have been focused on them. But many Muslims are spiritually hungry, and the Lord is drawing them to himself. But it is hard for individuals to make a commitment to Jesus Christ, unless they are the head of the family.

Recently, in one country, a Muslim leader of a village of over 1000 people began praying to Allah for help in leading his people. One night he had a dream, telling him to go to the house of a certain believer in Jesus, who would tell him about "the straight path." So he did, and the believer explained the gospel. The Muslim then asked this believer to come tell the gospel to his whole village.

It seemed everyone believed. The leaders then held a meeting, and decided to ask for Christian baptism. So the visiting Christian baptized the Muslim leader, who then baptized all his leaders, who in turn, baptized the men under them. Then the men baptized their wives and sons, and the wives baptized their daughters. Over 1000 people came into the kingdom that day!

Kenyan prayers

I got this story from Caleb Project's Mission Catalyst Newsletter. I think it serves as an excellent example of applying a spiritual solution to a political problem.

A group of children runs up a muddy path, drenched from an unexpected downpour. A five-year-old boy speeds in front of the pack when he suddenly spies the perfect puddle.

He waits until his older sister and friends are almost parallel with him and then practically "cannonballs" to get the biggest splash. He giggles and dashes in the church's front door as the eight-year-olds squeal and chase after him.

I laugh at the scene and follow the kids inside the small, tin shack of a Baptist church. After three weeks of post-election violence, it's good to hear the sounds of children laughing and playing - especially in the hard-hit slums of Nairobi.

Inside the church, it's wall-to-wall children. My heart overflows with emotion as I hear a sound even more precious than laughter - a child's sweet, innocent prayer.

"Father, our country is in trouble. We pray for peace to come," an 11-year-old boy prays. "Protect us, Father. Teach people to love one another and not to fight anymore."

For the last two weeks, children in this small slum area have gathered to pray for their country. The church's pastor says the children started gathering on their own, so he let them in the church. The daily prayer meeting now attracts more than 200 children ranging in age from three to 17.

Ever since the children started praying together, the pastor says there have been no deaths, houses burned or even violence in their section of this slum. Adults recite this fact in amazement. The children, however, don't even mention it because it's exactly what they expected to happen.

"Pastor told us that there is power in prayer. He said we can change the country through prayer," 12-year-old Boniface explains. "So that is what we are doing, changing the country."

I'm amazed at the depth of understanding these children have of the issues surrounding the Kenya post-election chaos.

The 12-year-old prays for President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga to sit at one table and talk peacefully. Votes cast in the election for these two candidates are under contention. The two leaders have yet to talk to each other in an effort to bring the strife in Kenya to a peaceful resolution.

Caroline, 16, shows her concern for the 250,000 internally displaced people around the country. She prays they will be able to go to school somewhere and that they feel safe. UNICEF estimates that more than 40 percent of the displaced are children. Parents put their children on trucks headed to the camps for displaced people but stayed behind to protect their houses and belongings. Many sit in camps, unable to attend schools that just opened mid-January.

Another young boy prays for the people hurting others who are not from the same tribe, referring to reports of ethnic animosity throughout the country. He asks God to help them all be brothers and sisters and one people.

The pastor smiles and whispers to me, "A few days ago that one asked if I knew what tribe he was. I told him no. He didn't know, either. So he told me, 'I think I belong to the tribe of Kenya.'"

When it's time for the "babies" to pray, a fearless four-year-old clasps his hands and closes his eyes so tight that his entire face scrunches up. "God, people die," he says in prayer. "Please do not let anyone die in front of my house."

More than 600 people have died since elections December 27. The number increases daily as violence and protests continue.

It's now my turn to pray and close the meeting. There's not much left to say, so I thank God for the innocent prayers of children and their faith in his answers.

As soon as I say "Amen," the church buzzes with little voices and bottled-up energy spurts out freely. Laughing and holding hands, the children rush into the rain and head home.

Even though it's dry season and the rains are not supposed to come for another month, no one complains about getting wet or muddy. The rain is an answered prayer.

The children had prayed about a three-day countrywide protest called by the opposition party. They had asked God to take control and keep people from dying.

Because of the rains, turnout for the protest was much smaller than expected. While there was still a lot of property damage, it was much less than predicted. Death tolls for the week were the lowest since the incidents started.

"See," seven-year-old Natasha whistles through her missing two front teeth. "God answers prayers."

May Christians everywhere learn from these children. True power flows from Calvary's cross, not from Caesar's throne.

Meeting the Jesus Campers-revised

A few weeks ago I received an e-mail from a friend of mine who pastors a small church near a military base in rural Missouri. Although I’ve spoken at this particular pastor’s church before, a lot has changed in my life since the last time I visited him and his family. Since my first two visits, I’ve spent a year and a half in West Africa, traveled to Pakistan twice, debated a radical jihadist in London, and participated in a peace delegation with a group called Christian Peacemaker Teams in the West Bank.

Last Sunday when I met up with the pastor and his family, I knew full well that I wasn’t the only one whose life had changed within a few short years. When I first met the pastor’s son Levi, Levi was 10 years old and virtually indistinguishable from every other 10-year old boy, except for the tail on the back of his neck and his unwavering conviction that Jesus has called him to be a missionary in India. This time around, when I introduced myself to Levi, who didn’t remember me before, I knew I was in the presence of a movie star…sort of.

The Levi that I’m talking about is Levi O Brien and the pastor that I’m talking about is Pastor Tim O Brien. The church I am referring to is Rock of Ages, the spiritual family of Levi and Rachel, two of the child stars featured prominently in the documentary film Jesus Camp. The film follows Levi, Rachel, and one other girl as they spend the week at a summer camp for Christian youth led by the charismatic preacher Becky Fisher. At camp, the children speak in tongues, dance around in war costumes, stretch forth their hands to pray to a cardboard cut-out of President George Bush (in actuality, the children were praying “for” Bush not “to” him), prophesy to each other, preach to each other, fall out under the power of the Holy Spirit, and pour out their souls in passionate intercession for the spiritual fate of our nation.

When I actually watched the movie Jesus Camp for the first time, I had very mixed feelings. On one level, I was glad to see young people passionate about their faith, but on another level I was thinking “Oh my! I hope there aren’t too many non-Christians who will actually see this. They’ll think we’re all nuts!” It turned out that my fears were justified. Most of the reviews I read all but charged Becky Fisher and the O Brien family with child abuse. Some condemned them to hell for preying on the minds of the innocent and turning them into brain-washed psychopaths. One reviewer called it the scariest movie of the year. Another reviewer compared the children to Islamic jihadists in training.

Before I give my impressions of the O Brien Family and the Rock of Ages Church, let me start off by saying there were several aspects of the film that concerned my wife and I. In the film, Pastor Tim’s wife Tracy teaches her children the literal six- day creation theory as if it were the only possible interpretation of the creation account in Genesis, implies that Global Warming is a left-wing conspiracy, talks about America being a Christian nation in a manner that many secular Americans and even a good number of Christians would consider naïve. My wife and I also felt that much of the political activism in the film was inappropriate for children who were too young to understand the complexities of the issues they were dealing with (such as 6 and 7 year olds placing red bandanas around their mouths and protesting the evils of abortion). The most disturbing aspect for me was the filmmakers’ portrayal of evangelical Christians as a monolithic entity that by definition votes Republican and supports the Iraq War.

When Pastor Tim invited me to speak at his church, I have to admit that I was shaking in my boots. Not only did I know that I would be preaching a message on the radical non-violent nature of the Kingdom to a church where nearly every member worked for the U.S. military; but with images from Jesus Camp rolling around in my head, I expected my message of refusing earthly power as a means to advance the purposes of God on the earth would meet with cries of blasphemy. Not only did I not get booed off the stage, but afterwards I had several meaningful discussions with the members of the congregation and, most importantly, with the O Briens themselves.

You wouldn’t get this impression from watching Jesus Camp, but the O Briens have absolutely no interest in turning the U.S.A. into a Christian theocracy. During the potluck after the service, Pastor Tim shared with me his views concerning the pursuit of earthly power to advance the Kingdom of God and referred me to other preachers who were also speaking out against the national and political idolatry often associated with the Christian right. Pastor Tim’s wife, Tracy, was even more forthright in her views. Given her comment in Jesus Camp, I was surprised to hear her say that she agreed with me on my points that much of what constitutes as American Civil religion is based on the founding myths of the early pilgrims who believed they were establishing the Kingdom of God by settling the New World. Tracy also shared with me how she has come to realize that the Constitution is not a religious document, that much of what she learned about American history as a child was candy-coated, and that the founders of America, though they were brilliant, were fallible just like the rest of us. To my surprise, Tracy went on to tell me that, although she loves politics and considers herself a conservative, she hasn’t considered herself a Republican in two and a half years!

As far as the O Brien children, I don’t think I can stress enough how normal they are. Levi is now 15 years old and still dreams of living in India as a missionary in the near future. He loves to read books on history and has a part in a theatrical production in cooperation with other home schooled kids in the area. As much as I appreciate Levi’s authenticity, I think the proof of the normalcy of the O Brien children isn’t so much with Levi, but with Luke. With Levi’s passion for ministry and his Jesus Camp fame, you would think that Luke would be the bitter younger brother starving for parental approval (if indeed the O Briens were the stereotypical domineering type everyone seems to think they are). Not even close. Evangelical haters may be disappointed to hear that Luke is a happy, well-adjusted 14-year old kid who loves Jesus, loves his parents, and wants to chase tornados when he grows up. With his long hair, I told him he looked like he could be one of the characters from the movie Twister. This drew laughs from mom and dad.

Do the O Briens want to kill Harry Potter? Actually no. Jesus Camp viewers may be surprised that the O Briens actually let their children read the Harry Potter books and watch the movies. Do the O Briens want capital punishment for homosexuals? No they don’t. They believe homosexuality is a sin, but it’s no worse than other sins, such as pride and greed. Do the O Briens want to overthrow the government? Again, the answer is no.

The problem with our media saturated culture is it’s far too easy to draw conclusions based on images and 15 second soundbites, especially when the images and soundbites are divorced from their broader context. In today’s pessimistic culture, it’s hard to believe that children can be passionate about their faith and even harder to believe that human beings can behave so strangely in a religious meeting and retain their intellect. But just because it’s hard for people in the post-modern West to accept the strange behavior associated with revivalism, that doesn’t means this type of behavior is all that unusual. Not only is American history filled with examples of religious revivalism, much of the non-Western world today experiences manifestations associated with religious ecstasy on a regular basis.

Jesus Camp may have frightened American critics, but I bet if I showed the film to a group of Africans or Brazilians, they’d likely jump for joy and shout hallelujah. This isn’t to say that I don’t have my own reservations when it comes to unusual behavior associated with religious revivalism. I just happen to know that, from a cultural and historical standpoint, the skepticism in the modern West against behavior associated with religious phenomenon is culturally and historically unique-not the other way around. Trust me. Neither Levi nor Luke is the next Ted Kazinski. You can sleep soundly tonight.

Meeting the Jesus Campers

A few weeks ago I received an e-mail from a friend of mine who pastors a small church near the military base in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. For years my cousin has been the worship leader at this man’s church (up until last week when the army relocated him to Germany). Although I’ve spoken at this particular pastor’s church before, a lot has changed in my life since the last time I visited him and his family. Since my first two visits, I’ve spent a year and a half in West Africa, traveled to Pakistan twice, debated a radical jihadist in London for a feature length documentary, and participated in a peace delegation with a group called Christian Peacemaker Teams in the West Bank.

Last Sunday when I met up with the pastor and his family, I knew full well that I wasn’t the only one whose life had changed within a few short years. When I first met the pastor’s son Levi, Levi was 10 years old and virtually indistinguishable from every other 10-year old boy, except for the tail on the back of his neck and his unwavering conviction that Jesus has called him to be a missionary in India. This time around, when I introduced myself to Levi, who didn’t remember me before, I knew I was in the presence of a movie star…sort of.

The Levi that I’m talking about is Levi O Brien and the pastor that I’m talking about is Pastor Tim O Brien. The church I am referring to is Rock of Ages, the spiritual family of Levi and Rachel, two of the child stars featured prominently in the documentary film Jesus Camp. The film follows Levi and Rachel (and one other girl from another church) as they spend the week at a summer camp for Christian youth led by the charismatic preacher Becky Fisher. At camp, the children speak in tongues, dance around in war costumes, stretch forth their hands to supposedly pray to a cardboard cut-out of President George Bush (in actuality, the children were praying “for” Bush not “to” him, something that insiders like myself would know but outsiders could easily misinterpret), prophesy to each other, preach to each other, fall out under the power of the Holy Spirit, and pour out their souls in passionate intercession for the spiritual fate of our nation.

As a Christian reared in the Pentecostal/charismatic tradition, there was very little I saw in Jesus Camp that I couldn’t relate to in one way or another. I can remember speaking in tongues for the first time at an Assembly of God summer camp during one of the evening services and then waking up the next day to go swimming and horse back riding. I remember singing “I’m in the Lord’s Army” in children’s church (which I understood figuratively even as a seven year old). I can remember attending a Christian school when I was between the ages of 12 and 14 and the highlight of my week was attending a voluntary prayer meeting with my youth pastor on Thursdays afternoons. In these prayer meetings, my peers and I would pray in tongues, prophesy, interpret dreams, and cry out to God for revival. The church of my upbringing was also the spiritual center in my city of a very controversial revival movement in which the signature manifestations were Holy Laughter, falling out under the power (also known as getting slain in the Spirit), shaking, and a sensation of drunkenness associated with the arrival of the Holy Spirit in the midst of the congregation.

When I actually watched the movie Jesus Camp for the first time, I had very mixed feelings. On one level, I was glad to see young people passionate about their faith, but on another level I was thinking “Oh my! I hope there aren’t too many non-Christians who will actually see this. They’ll think we’re all nuts!” It turned out that my fears were justified. Most of the reviews I read all but charged Becky Fisher and the O Brien family with child abuse. Some condemned them to hell for preying on the minds of the innocent and turning them into brain-washed psychopaths. One reviewer called it the scariest movie of the year (perhaps the creepy background music throughout the film got to him). Another reviewer compared the children to Islamic jihadists in training.

Before I give my impressions of the Obrien Family and the Rock of Ages Church, let me start off by saying there were several aspects of the film that concerned my wife and I. In the film, Pastor Tim’s wife Tracy teaches her kids the literal six- day creation theory as if it were the only possible interpretation of the creation account in Genesis, implies that Global Warming is a left-wing conspiracy, talks about America being a Christian nation in a manner that many secular Americans and even a good number of Christians would consider naïve. My wife and I also felt that much of the political activism in the film was inappropriate for children who were too young to understand the complexities of the issues they were dealing with (such as 6 and 7 year olds placing red bandanas around their mouths and protesting the evils of abortion). The most disturbing aspect for me was the filmmakers’ portrayal of evangelical Christians as a monolithic entity that by definition votes Republican and supports the Iraq War.

When Pastor Tim invited me to speak at his church, I have to admit that I was shaking in my boots. Not only did I know that I would be preaching a message on the radical non-violent nature of the Kingdom to a church where nearly every member worked for the U.S. military; but with images from Jesus Camp rolling around in my head, I expected my message of refusing earthly power as a means to advance the purposes of God on the earth would meet with cries of blasphemy. Not only did I not get booed off the stage, but afterwards I had several meaningful discussions with the members of the congregation and, most importantly, with the O Briens themselves.

You wouldn’t get this impression from watching Jesus Camp, but the O Briens have absolutely no interest in turning the U.S.A. into a Christian theocracy. During the potluck after the service, Pastor Tim shared with me his views concerning the pursuit of earthly power to advance the Kingdom of God and referred me to other preachers who were also speaking out against the political idolatry often associated with the Christian right. Pastor Tim’s wife, Tracy, was even more forthright in her views. Given her comment in Jesus Camp, I was surprised to hear her say that she agreed with me on my points that much of what constitutes as American Civil religion is based on the founding myths of the early pilgrims who believed they were establishing the Kingdom of God by settling the New World. Tracy also shared with me how she has come to realize that the Constitution is not a religious document, that much of what she learned about American history as a child was candy-coated, and that the founders of America, though they were brilliant, were fallible just like the rest of us. Tracy also told me that liberal historians write some of the books she has her children read. To my surprise, Tracy went on to tell me that, although she loves politics and considers herself a conservative, she hasn’t considered herself a Republican in two and a half years!

Were the O Brien children psychologically disturbed? I don’t think I can stress enough how normal the O Brien children are. Levi is now 15 years old and still dreams of living in India as a missionary in the near future. He loves to read books on history and has a part in a theatrical production in cooperation with other home schooled kids in the neighborhood. He loves Jesus with all his heart and, though an independent thinker, he loves and respects his parents in a way that is refreshing to see considering the disrespect that so many other children his age have for their parents. I think the proof of the normalcy of the O Brien children isn’t so much with Levi, but with Luke. With Levi’s passion for ministry and his Jesus Camp fame, you would think that Luke would be the bitter younger brother starving for parental approval (if indeed the O Briens were the stereotypical domineering type everyone seems to think they are). Not even close. Evangelical haters may be disappointed to hear that Luke is a happy, well-adjusted 14-year old who loves Jesus, loves his parents, and wants to chase tornados when he grows up. With his long hair, I told him he looked like he could be one of the characters from the movie Twister. This drew laughs from the entire family.

Do the O Briens want to kill Harry Potter (as the film seems to suggest)? Actually no. Jesus Camp viewers may be surprised that the O Briens actually let their children read the Harry Potter books and watch the movies. Do the O Briens want capital punishment for homosexuals? Again, the answer is no. They believe homosexuality is a sin, but it’s no worse than other sins, such as pride and greed. Do the O Briens want to overthrow the government? Again, the answer is no. As Tracy explained to me, Becky Fisher’s comment to the liberal radio talk show host that “democracy is set up in such a way as to bring an end to itself” was not about anarchy. Becky was simply saying that democracy is useless without a moral foundation.

The problem with our media saturated culture is it’s far too easy to draw conclusions based on images and 15 second sound-bites, especially when the images and sound-bites are divorced from their broader context. In today’s pessimistic culture, it’s hard to believe that children can be passionate about their faith and even harder to believe that human beings can behave so strangely in a religious meeting and retain their intellect. But just because it’s hard for people today (particularly in America and Western Europe) to accept the strange behavior associated with revivalism, that doesn’t means this type of behavior is all that unusual. Not only is American history filled with examples of religious revivalism, much of the non-Western world today experiences manifestations associated with religious ecstasy on a regular basis.

Show the film to a group of American journalists and they’ll likely be horrified. On the other hand, show the film to a group of African or Brazilian Christians and they’ll likely jump for joy and shout hallelujah. This isn’t to say that I don’t have my own reservations when it comes to unusual behavior associated with religious revivalism. I most certainly do. I just happen to know that, from a cultural and historical standpoint, the skepticism in the modern West against behavior associated with religious renewal is culturally and historically unique-not the other way around. If all of us could approach life with a lot more understanding and a lot less judging, I have a feeling that films like Jesus Camp wouldn’t be so frightening after all.

Forgetting my lines

Picture this. I'm standing in front of a crowd of hundreds of people. I'm an actor in a theatrical production that all my friends and family have paid good money to see. Just when I'm about to say my lines...I freeze. With the eyes of hundreds of people staring straight at me, I realize all of the sudden that I don't know my lines. I've either forgotten them or I've never seen them before. I run back stage frantically looking for a copy of the script only to find that when I actually look at the script, I have no idea what I'm reading. The words appear on the page but my brain can't make sense of what I'm reading.

And so the dream ends. I probably have this dream at least two to three times a year. Yes, I used to be in theatrical productions when I was in high school, but that was a long time ago.

Can anyone think of how this could be used in a sermon illustration?

Perhaps me exposing my fears and insecurities to the global cyber-shrink population will yield some sort of redemption.

Be gentle.

Which one should I choose?

I receive e-mails from a lot of different ministries that want me to support or join their cause. Today I received an e-mail from two different ministries. In order to show the contrast between the two ministries, I decided to show the two e-mails side by side and ask my readers which cause I should support and why?

Below is the first e-mail sent out by Jay Sekulo from ACLJ.

Dear Aaron,

You are invited to join me and the ACLJ as we journey to the Holy Land this summer!

Jay Sekulow in Israel This is truly an unprecedented opportunity to experience Israel in a way that is not available to most visitors. You will not want to miss it.

Click here to review the itinerary, Frequently Asked Questions, and pricing for this special trip.

This is going to be more than just a 10-day tour. From June 17 through June 27, 2008, you can EXPERIENCE the rich history of this beautiful land.

The theme of this trip is ''Stand with Israel - in Israel.''

Walk where Jesus walked. Spend time with government officials, military leaders, and members of the Israeli Parliament. Get in-depth analysis and up-to-the minute information on what is taking place in the Middle East.

I will also provide you with an ''insider's view'' on how the ACLJ and our worldwide affiliates are showing support of this crucial Middle-Eastern State ... and why it is so vitally important.

Jay Sekulow in Israel Travel to one of the most strategic lands in all of history. Learn first-hand about life along the borders of Israel, Lebanon, and Syria. Witness the impact of events in Iraq on this region. Be baptized in the Jordan River. Experience the holy places where Jesus taught, and absorb the rich history of this amazing land. Make your plans NOW to join me for this unprecedented opportunity! Visit our website for more information or to put your deposit down.

The price of $3,999 per person, based on double occupancy, includes round-trip airfare from New York, hotel accommodations, all meals, sight-seeing tours, entrance fees, taxes, and gratuities. (I encourage you to book your trip before February 15. After that day, another $150 fuel surcharge per person will be added to the $3,999 fee.)

The best way to stand with Israel is to stand IN Israel. Don't miss this life-changing tour, June 17 - June 27, 2008.

Now that you've read an e-mail asking me to join a political agenda, I'd like to compare it to another e-mail I received from an Iranian evangelist named Reza Safa. Here is Reza's letter to me.

Dearest Friends,



I have just returned from a ministry trip to Las Vegas, where I ministered at the only Iranian church in the area. The Lord touched many people there. About ten people accepted the Lord and many were baptized in the Holy Spirit, and the Lord delivered and healed several people. One man approached me the first night and asked me to pray for his deliverance from alcohol addiction. After my preaching, when I gave the altar call, he and his wife came up and accepted the Lord. That night he asked his wife to throw away all beer and alcohol from their house. He used to drink two cases of beer every day. The following night he came back and told me that when he woke up that morning, he was completely free from alcohol. “I feel like a brand new man,” he said to me. That night he also brought his daughter, who is facing a marital problem. She also accepted the Lord and received prayer. To God be the glory, Jesus is still in the business of delivering people. During the services, a tall and strong elderly man, who used to be a wrestling champion, helped me catch people as I prayed for them. Talking to him afterwards, I realized that although he never missed any of their church services, he was still a Muslim and faithfully prayed his Islamic prayer five times every day. I encouraged him about faith in Christ. “Every blessing of God is only in Jesus,” I said to him. I told him that God will not operate outside of Jesus, for in Him all things sustain. He kept insisting that he loved Prophet Jesus, and I kept insisting that he didn’t believe in Jesus—not the Jesus that the Bible talks about. I loved on him and told him the truth. People must know the truth, even if the truth offends them, as long as we speak it in love. He called me yesterday and left a message on my cell phone. He said that the following morning when he woke up, for the first time after fifty years, he did not do his regular Islamic prayer, and that he asked Jesus to come in to his heart. I called him back and asked him if he called Jesus Khodavand (Lord). He acknowledged and told me that he hadn’t missed his daily Islamic prayers since he was six years old. He said that he wanted to be baptized. I asked him if he felt a change in his heart. He did and he said that he felt peace for the first time in his life. To God be the glory.



Christianity used to roar with conviction and solid revelation knowledge that shook the known world of its time. Unfortunately, Christianity today appears to be a more refined version of human philosophies. It lacks conviction and persuasion. It has glamour but it lacks glory. It is bound by self-interest and fear. “Why should we confront, when we can all live together in peace!” That is the philosophy of the hour. Interfaith and political correctness are invading our societies. It is all mixed in a grey mesh. Jesus said it well, "If the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." Did you know that salt raises your blood sugar? But without it, food has no taste. Truth is hard, but without it men like this wrestler will continue to turn toward Mecca and pray to a dead god five times a day for fifty years.



I have received criticism by several Christians about our upcoming debate with the Islamic Society of Tulsa. Most of their reasoning is based on fear of confrontation by the Muslims. In other words, let us not tell them the truth because we are afraid of their responses. Isn’t that what the Sanhedrin said to the Apostles? “Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 4:18)



Jamal Badawi, the Egyptian Muslim scholar whom the Islamic Society of Tulsa invited, often argues in major events that the Bible is a corrupted book, that Jesus is not the Son of God, and that Jesus did not die on the cross for the sins of the people. While he is hindered from receiving the salvation of God through Jesus Christ, he is also hindering millions of others from hearing about that salvation. While millions of Muslims are damned for hell because of the efforts of Mr. Badawi and his organization ISNA, Christians are afraid Muslims will react and hurt them. My Bible says, “… they loved not their lives unto death.” Isn’t that what Apollos did? “For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.” (Acts 18:28 NIV) Isn’t that what Paul often did? Isn’t that why he was stoned in Iconium? Read Acts 14:1-5. Paul caused uproar almost everywhere he went. Read Acts 13-20. Read about the public debates Paul had with the Jews every day for two years:



“Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. Acts 19:8-10 (NIV)



If Paul lived in our day, many Christians would curse him and possibly take him to court, accusing him of creating hatred between the Jews and Christians.



No, we will continue speaking the truth boldly and lovingly because we desire to see millions of Muslims delivered from darkness and set free, just like our Iranian wrestler friend from Las Vegas who prayed in a foreign language (Arabic) to a false god five times daily, bending up and down toward Mecca. But today he is free because I told him that God would never answer his prayer as long as he is a Muslim! Wow! That is harsh! But that is the truth. And that set him free.



You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.



I hope to see you all next Friday, January 25th. I am asking our church to fast and pray that day that God would open the eyes of Jamal Badawi, hundreds of Muslims who will be there, and tens of thousands of Muslims who will watch this video on the internet. Would you also commit that day to the Lord by fasting and praying for the salvation of these Muslims? Also please be there early, the doors open at 6:00 PM.





Loving Him Forever,



Pastor Reza F. Safa

Let's see here. The first e-mail wants me to advance a political agenda. The second e-mail wants me to advance a spiritual agenda.

Which one should I choose?

Is there really any contest?

Me and Mr. Potter

What do these phrases have in common?

1. I wish I had a million dollars. Hot Dog!

2. What is it that you want Mary? Do you want the moon? I'll give you the moon.

3. Well why don't you kiss her instead of talking her to death?

4. Look Burt! My mouth's bleeding! My mouth's bleeding Burt!

5. I've been saving this money for a divorce if I ever get a husband.

6. Look, daddy! Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.

7. You once called me a warped-frustrated old man.

These are just a few of the one-liners in what is arguably the best loved film of all time, "It's a Wonderful Life." The movie follows the story of a man named George Bailey, a man who had great dreams for himself, but found himself stuck in his hometown of Bedford Falls running the business/charity Bailey Building and Loan, the company he inherited from his father.

Like all good movies, "It's a Wonderful Life" has a villain, and the villain's name is Mr. Potter. Mr. Potter represents the corporate villain who cares for no one but himself and tramples on the poor like garbage. One of the most poignant scenes in the movie is when Mr. Potter offers George Bailey a job, promising him the pie in the sky but basically asking for his soul in return. In classic hero fashion George Bailey gives Potter a piece of his mind and calls him a warped-frustrated old man. Potter's position throughout the film is that of condescension. Potter says that George Bailey isn't a business man and that he's made life too easy for his borrowers.

Here's my problem. Every time I watch the movie, I have this struggle between my head and my heart. In my heart, I'd like to believe a man can do business like George Bailey, but in my head, I find myself agreeing with Mr. Potter that a man can't run a business like a charity.

Think about it. Have you ever met a George Bailey? Can you imagine Country-Wide mortgage telling you "Oh..that's okay. I know you've been having a hard time lately. Just pay me when you can." That's basically how George Bailey ran his business and that's precisely what makes him such a stark contrast to the evil Mr. Potter.

Throw the teaching of Jesus into the mix, "Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away" and it seems we have a real dilemma. If anyone typifies the spirit of Jesus in these words, it's George Bailey. The problem is that George Bailey is a fictional character, not a real person.

Here are a few questions that I think are worthy of reflection.

1. Have you every met a real George Bailey? If so, did he or she remain in business or did they have to close shop eventually?

2. In our impersonal capitalist economy, is it even possible to be a George Bailey?

3. How do you run a genuine business, especially one that affects people's livelihoods, without becoming a Mr. Potter?

4. What would Jesus say to a guy like George Bailey, a man who cares for the poor, but happens to be their lender?

5. Does the fact that it's very difficult to imagine a real live George Bailey tell us something about the economic system that we've taken for granted? Are there other macro-economic systems that would make it more viable for people like George Bailey to survive in the real world?

Discuss!

What the TV advertisers think of me

Last week I was having trouble sleeping on a Friday night. So, at about 12:30 a.m. I turned on the T.V. and happened to catch a few minutes of an episode of Friends. To my utter amazement I saw an advertiement for a gay dating service in St. Louis. The thought suddenly struck me....why do the advertisers think I'm gay just because I'm watching Friends late on a Friday night?

The following Monday I was doing my exercises in my living room and I noticed how many advertisements there were targeting senior citizens on medicare. Apparently, the advertisers also believe I am an old man.

Put it together and, according to the advertisers, I'm an elderly gay man in desperate need of a scooter.

In actuality, I'm a physically active 29 year old married man with occasional insomnia.

The next time you turn on the T.V. ask yourself who the advertisers think you are. The exercise can be fun....and a bit disturbing.

My Most Embarrassing Moment

One of the things I learned in Bible School is that today’s ministers are supposed to be transparent. Very few people can connect with ministers who seem to have it all together. Even fewer can connect with ministers who like to talk about how they have it all together. Growing up my mom used to always say to me, “Aaron, you need to learn to laugh at yourself.” In an effort to please my mom and my Bible School instructors, I’ve decided to start the year off with revealing my most embarrassing moment to you, my loyal readers.

I was 21 years old and working full time as a waiter at Steak N Shake, a popular restaurant here in the Midwest. For those unfamiliar with Steak N Shake, think of a restaurant that resembles a 50’s diner-a step above fast food but not as high on the status scale as an Applebee’s or a Houlihans. Due to an extremely short staff that evening, one of the managers called me in to work at the last minute. I didn’t want to work on a Sunday evening, but I decided to go in anyway since I needed the extra cash…and because the manager on duty really needed the help.

I’m not sure whether God was getting even with me for breaking the Christian Sabbath or whether it was just plain bad luck, but I’ll never forget how it seemed like the entire state of Missouri showed up to eat at Steak N Shake that evening…with only me and one other guy waiting tables. (Note to hypercritical theologians…the above sentence regarding divine retribution for working on a Sunday is a literary device, not a doctrinal statement). There must have been at least 50-75 people all wanting service at the same time. Put that in combination with an individual such as myself who gets really flustered when he’s in a hurry and who happens to be gracefully challenged…and you have a disaster waiting to happen.

One table in particular started out with two shakes, a side of coleslaw, and a cup of soup, a coca cola and three glasses of water. Nothing unusual. I’d filled hundreds of orders like this before. Why this had to happen on a day when the entire restaurant was full, I’ll never know but just as I was getting ready to hand my customers their order, I slipped and fell flat on my …note to editors…derriere. The tray went flying and there was broken glass everywhere. I even managed to get a good portion of the chocolate shake in a female customer’s shoulder length hair.

If this were where the story ended, it would be embarrassing enough. Unfortunately for me and my customers, the story doesn’t end here. After cleaning up my mess I had to go back to fill the customers order a second time. As I walked out onto the floor, I could feel the intensity of every eye in the restaurant staring straight at me, wondering what was going to happen. With every eye glued on me and me alone (at least that’s what it felt like at the time), I attempted to deliver my customers’ order a second time and, what do you know, my foot slipped again and I landed flat on my back with my arms sprawled across the floor. Again, glass went flying everywhere and, again, the same lady received the same amount of chocolate shake in her hair as the first time.

After I fell the second time I went to my manager and begged him not to make me go back out and face the same crowd. “For the love of everything sacred and holy please don’t make me go back out there,” I pleaded. Even as I was pleading with my manager to let me go on break, I knew it wasn’t going to happen. We were too short-staffed and there were simply too many people in the restaurant. For the third time I had to take the walk of shame, only this time people had literally cleared the aisles to prepare a path for me to walk. They were fleeing for their lives. Thankfully, on my third try I was able to deliver the order to my customers and to my utter amazement, the lady with the chocolate shake in her hair even left me a sizable tip on the way out.

A very wise king once said, “For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again,” (Proverbs 24:16). While I hope and pray that everyone reading these words are doing wonderful and feeling great, I know that for some, perhaps many, that is simply not the case. Perhaps you’ve reached a place in your life where it feels like everything you touch turns to sand. Maybe you’re attempting for the 7th time the same New Year’s resolution. Maybe you’ve suffered a failed business, or a failed marriage. Maybe you’ve fallen away from God and feel that you’ve been out of the race for too long to get back in. Perhaps you’ve dropped out of church because of a root of bitterness you’ve allowed to take hold in your heart. Whoever you are and whatever your situation, know that you are not alone. It’s not the fact that you’ve fallen that defines you. It’s whether you get back up. If you feel like you’ve fallen too many times to be able to hold your head up high, perhaps your Heavenly Father has led you to read the words of this clumsy, flustered preacher to deliver this message to your soul at the start of 2008.

Happy New Year!

Your race isn’t over yet.