Your Very Own Piece of the Gates of Hell

“Infidel” author and self-acknowledged Islam-born atheist, Ayaan Hirsi Ali recently wrote on Christian persecution in the Muslim world. Found on the Daily Beast website, Ali’s article may seem surprising. However, one of the reasons she has achieved such a high reputation globally is that her analysis seems to cut all ways. Her interest is for true tolerance—if we are going to advocate for religious freedom, it needs to be for everybody.

Ali coins the term “Christophobia” in response to the current politically correct war on Islamophobia in the West. She agrees that discrimination against Muslims is wrong, but asks why governments and the media are subsequently turning a blind eye to the intense persecution of the Church across the Muslim world. She proceeds to cite case after case in one nation after another where Christians are being murdered, raped, kidnapped, and so on by Muslim gangs and/or national governments.

Her stories are worth grieving over as brothers and sisters live and die in fear around the world, while we sit royally in our insulated, generally secure homes, worshiping openly in our churches. Such persecution is yet one more sin and atrocity in this fallen world calling for our collective attention, prayer and action.

Overwhelmed?

It is so easy to get overwhelmed with all of the problems in the world. Our politics, conflicts abroad, drugs, school violence and lockdowns, poverty, starvation, the sex and slave trades, religious conflicts (armed, verbal, legislative, etc.), and the list keeps going.

Jesus didn’t heal every sick person in Israel, much less the world, nor did He right every injustice around Him, but He confidently said that He had done everything He came to do.

For us, we aren’t God, so we can’t hope to solve every problem. However, I think the solution is to see what issues impassion you and prayerfully pursue those, and not feel guilty for not pursuing others. It is easy to be guilted by others’ passion, but resist. Many if not most of these problems are desperately real, and so be grateful and encourage others in pursuing their passions, and share yours with them. Just don’t be insulted or think less of them if they don’t jump on board with you. It goes both ways.

We will each have peace and encouragement, and more will be done as we mutually encourage each other while remaining focused on the tasks we’ve been given.

SDG

One Size Fits All

Today, I visited a friend’s church where he started a 14 week class he wrote as a “thoughtful, reasoned, Christian response to Richard Dawkins’ latest book, The Greatest Show On Earth.” (If you are interested, it is held at The Palace Theatre, 810 South Austin Avenue, just off the square in Georgetown, Texas. It is being hosted by Main Street Baptist Church and runs from 9:45am to 10:40am. The next session is May 15. For info, contact John, the teacher, at john@murphyacq.com.)

Simultaneously, in the car, I’m listening to Donald Miller read his bestseller, Blue Like Jazz. I’m probably the last person in American Christendom to read it—even my dad has read it before I’ve gotten to it. (I’ll likely post on it once I’ve finished it.)

Talk about engaging both halves of your brain! As I reflected on the things I’ve heard and learned today, I had to laugh.

The Power of Passion

I live on the outskirts of a small town near Austin. About a mile and a half away as the crow flies is a driving range on the highway. Tonight, they had a fireworks show that just floored me. It was virtually non-stop with many going off simultaneously for 30-40 minutes, which I learned was shorter than the last couple of years. It was one of the most spectacular I’ve ever seen, and we were right at the scene of the action—I have ash and bits of unburned cardboard all over my hair and clothes. About half of the driving range was literally covered with the tubes and an army of about 15 people were down there setting things off, rushing from one stash to the next. They had patriotic music going, closing with Kate Smith belting out God Bless America. The finale tubes were maybe 50 feet away and consisted of a line of tubes producing about 3 minutes of non-stop streams of purple and yellow that formed a sheet of fire 50 feet tall with the sound of Niagara Falls magnified. I had to cover my ears.

It was a dollar donation to park, and that earned you a raffle ticket with dozens and dozens of prizes. There was a silent auction, and booths sponsored by groups within a local 7^th Day Adventist church. There were a number of small business sponsors.

But the heart and soul of the show was two brothers (I think from that church), who have been doing this for the community for about 20 years. It used to be three brothers until one passed away. They just love pyrotechnics and so said, “why not?” I can’t imagine the expense of the event—not only were there probably $20,000 worth of fireworks, but they had several of those solar powered highway information signs advertising it along the highway, and local law enforcement for traffic control. They admitted the sponsorships hadn’t covered the full cost and asked for donations. This wasn’t some government sponsored event, just two locals turning their passion into a gift to the community. It was people taking charge and doing for themselves, not waiting nor wanting government to step in and take care of it for them.

As I reflect over the amazing evening, it is encouraging to see people like these brothers having a passion for something grand and making it happen annually for 20 years and counting.

Some may think of this as a waste of tons of money. I don’t know. I didn’t talk with the brothers long enough to find out what their true motivations are, but I have a hard time, on the surface, thinking God is displeased with them for bringing such joy to hundreds if not thousands of people, with simple, clean entertainment for their neighbors. Yes, it is an act of passion. It is also an act of agape, the unconditional love for others. No one is turned away, no one asked for qualifications, just “Come. Enjoy. Relax. Encounter Awe.”

What is our passion? What are we willing to make happen because we simply love it?

PS-the email functionality has been down for about a week. I apologize if you are an email subscriber. I think the problem is fixed. If you aren’t reading this, let me know. ;)

SDG