'Us' vs. 'them'

Something to think about for Holy Week, found here.

I enjoy the blog God's Politics. Interesting, even if I don't always agree with everything.

Do you hear me, God?

Do you hear me, God?

Never before in my life have I spoken to you, but today I want to greet you. You know that since I was a child, they said that you didn't exist... And I was foolish enough to believe them.

Never before have I realized the beauty of your creation. Today only I discovered this beauty, when suddenly an abyss opened. Above me, a sky filled with stars. Amazed, I saw how they twinkled. How could I have been. so cruelly deceived!

I don't know, Lord, whether you will stretch out your hand to reach me, but for me, I will recognize you, and you will understand.

It's a miracle that in the depth of this terrifying hell, light illuminates me... and that I have been able to see you. I won't tell you anything else, except what a joy it is to know you.

At midnight, we have received the order to attack: but I am not afraid. You are watching us.

Listen, there is the signal. I have to go. Yet, it was so good to be with you.

What I still wanted to say: You know, this combat will be mean. Maybe, tonight I will knock on your door. Even though I never was your friend, will you let me enter, when I come?

But – am I crying? Look what's happening to me! My eyes have opened. Forgive me God.

I am going, and surely I will not come back.

But, o wonder, I am no longer afraid of death.

-found in the pocket of a Soviet soldier killed during World War II
(hat tip to ncccusa.org's Prayers for Peace)

Brain exercise

So, my church (plus a few, whom I adore) is doing a women's Bible study on the book of Daniel. It's a Beth Moore study - Beth is incredibly gifted and I've done a couple other studies of hers at various points in my life.

This one on the book of Daniel - whew. All I have to say is IT MAKES MY BRAIN HURT. The names, places, prophecies, WOW. Some of the stories are familiar and others I don't think I've ever read before. Anyway, there are a few things that theologically I disagree with Beth about, namely her view of the nation of Israel (as it is today) and the pre-Millenial, pre-tribulation teaching. It's not a huge deal and certainly within the body of Christ there is room for disagreement on such things. I'll admit to approaching the study with a bit of trepidation because of those things, but have been pleasantly surprised to find that it hasn't been as painful as I thought it would be.

One thing this study (along with an awesome Bible study at church tonight) has done is cement in my heart a desire to see peace between Jews and Muslims. Yes, I realize this a conflict that goes back to Ishmael and Isaac - deep-rooted and plenty of hurt on both sides. Yes, I realize that I am not going to be the solution. Personally I think both sides (and heck, Christians too, for that matter) have forgotten what it means to act like God's people, and I think it grieves God's heart to see two groups of people whom He has promised to be great nations constantly warring. My heart is specifically for Muslims. This is not to discount the special place in my heart for the Jewish people - heck, my Christ was a Jewish rabbi, and if I had to pick a faith other than the one I have, I'd be Jewish. And, I believe the horrible things visited on the Jews throughout the centuries have been well-documented: slavery in Egypt, Herod's slaughter of the innocents, the Maccabean revolt, and in more recent times the Holocaust (that's enough horror for a few millenia, methinks). But I think that - especially in this day - we Christians overlook the (military, humanitarian, and political) persecutions Muslims have faced in our God's name.

The study we did at church tonight focused on the original story of Hagar's visitation by 'an angel of the Lord' (possibly the pre-incarnate Christ?) and it moved me to tears. As many times as I've heard that story, it hit me hard tonight. To think that a slave woman pregnant with the baby of someone else's husband would be one of the first to have a theophany. To think that not only does God care enough to give her baby a name too, the name he gives that baby means 'God hears.' God promised that that baby would be blessed and be a great nation as well.

So, it gives me hope and comfort to know that - because God does not change - God still hears the prayers of Jews and Muslims worldwide today. God hears the prayers of Jewish and Muslim fathers who have to dig children from rubble. God hears the mothers whose sons and daughters have fought, killed, and died for lies perpetuated by the government of each 'side.' God hears the cries of children frightened by rocket attacks, and God hears the cries of children whose houses have been razed to the ground. The God who loves all and does not play favorites...He hears. Ishmael.

"She is in a place where she will always be young, she will always be beautiful, and I personally feel much safer knowing that she's up there on my side."

- Annelle, from the movie Steel Magnolias

On cussing

In my Bible study Monday morning, one of the members whom I love and admire for who she is and how transparent she is (and for the wonderful prison ministry she has!) shared that cursing doesn't faze her in the least. She doesn't curse herself but when others do, it goes in one ear and out the other.

That set me thinking, and I guess I should say from the get-go that I cuss. Most of you who read this won't be surprised but for those that are, I'm sorry for not being more transparent. For me, it is not something that I feel under conviction about. Maybe God has decided He wants me to work on other things first and will eventually get around to that in His time. I don't know. There is plenty that He is working on, but that is not one of them.

I have limits. Out of respect for people whom it does bother, I limit it. And I don't use the word that starts with 'God.' I do draw the line there. And I don't think it should be directed at someone. But the rest, honestly, does not bother me. To me, this is along the same lines as alcohol - for some it is wrong, and for some it is not, and everyone works it out in the best way they can without either side judging the other. Maybe I have it wrong but for now this is where I am.

Thinking about this reminds me of an illustration that writer/speaker Tony Campolo uses when starting off a speech:

"I have three things I'd like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don't give a shit. What's worse is that you're more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night."

I think his quote sums up the crux of the matter for me. I'm certainly open to changing my mind if God works on me about it, but for the moment I think we have so many bigger fish to fry in this world that a swear here and there is just not worth getting worked up about. *

Thoughts?


*Now, I will say this - I do believe there's such a thing as overdoing anything, and swearing is no different. And, I don't believe in overdoing anything just because there's grace to cover it. That's not cool either.

Peace all over the world

Currently reading....

Brave Men by Ernie Pyle
The Myth of a Christian Nation by Greg Boyd

Both are really really good. It's nice to have a hard time picking between which book to read.

My heart and prayers are with the people of Chile. I told God a couple days ago in my prayers that two big earthquakes in as many months is ENOUGH.