The Real Message

We live in a land of many churches. Since Muslims don't understand separation of church and state, most assume the West is 'Christian'. Its confusing for them when Christians identify themselves as 'Baptist', 'Mennonite', etc. etc. Some wonder, "What is the real Christian message?"

In Unshackled and Growing Nabil Jabbour gives an illustration of "What is the Gospel?" It is written with a Muslim audience in mind.

"I...wrapped a tangerine with paper. I taped it and wrote on the paper, “Change my name from a Muslim name to a Christian name.” Then I wrapped another paper around it and wrote on it, “Abandon my Muslim family and join Christianity.” Then on another paper I wrote, “I need to be ready to attack Islam,” and I continued with another one and another one. By the time I finished, the tangerine became almost the size of a volleyball...I went back to the group telling them there was something inside that symbolized the Gospel. I showed them what I had written on the outer sheet and asked, “Is this the Gospel?” They said, “No.”...I kept unwrapping the layers one after the another until there was only one wrapping sheet left. By then, they could see that there was a tangerine inside, and they started laughing. When I got to the last sheet, I asked them, “Is this the Gospel?” and they shouted, “No!” Finally, I unwrapped the last sheet, leaving only the tangerine, and asked, “Is this the Gospel?” They screamed “Yes!” I surprised them by saying, “No.” Then I peeled the tangerine, threw the peelings away, and said, “This is the Gospel.”

Yes, Jesus is at the core of our message from God. He demonstrated perfectly what God is like. Leaving the political, cultural and even religious wrappings, Muslims can get a better glimpse of what the Gospel is all about.

"One summer, D.L. Moody invited a young English preacher, Henry Moorhouse, to preach at his Chicago church. The young preacher spent the entire week preaching on just one verse--John 3:16: 

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." 

Each night, the auditorium was filled to capacity, and many were saved. D.L. Moody was initially puzzled by the incredible response to Moorhouse's sermons but later confided to a friend, "I never knew up to that time that God loved us so much. This heart of mine began to thaw out; I could not keep back the tears. I just drank it in. So did the crowded congregation. I tell you, there is one thing that draws above everything else in the world, and that is love." 

At 11 years old, I responded to a message on this very passage. I said 'yes' to Jesus and He began to change my life! 

My friend Samir was trying to be polite. He didn't want to say anything negative about my faith. I helped him understand terms he knew about Jesus from the Qur'an--Word of God, Messiah, and Jesus had the Spirit of God. I think God used my testimony to help him understand Jesus in a new way. I continue to pray that he and many of my Muslim friends would long for the Jesus we as believers know.

Dear God, help me to communicate the 'heart of the Gospel message'. Amen.

Alive!

"He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs." Acts 1:3

My Muslim friend Asif sniffed the Communion juice cup he held in his hand. Alcohol?? We had taken Asif to a church service one final time before he would return to his homeland. It happened to be 'Communion Sunday'. With camera in hand he moved over to a seat a distance from us while taking pictures of the music portion of the worship service. When the audience was invited to partake together, he nibbled up the piece of bread, smelled the juice again and then drank it. When Asif returned to the area we were seated in after the service I knew I had some explaining to do. I could read his face that he was puzzled with these miniature portions of juice and bread! It opened an opportunity to explain the truth that Jesus suffered and died and came back to life for us. He left Canada with lots to think about.

Thomas in the Bible had serious doubts about rumors that Jesus arose till he miraculously showed up. Jesus invited Thomas to thrust his hand into wounds in his hands and side. He now saw for himself and declared "My Lord and my God." Many have doubted the account of Jesus' death and resurrection. Lee Strobel as one of them in his typical fashion, researches the death and resurrection of Jesus in 'The Case for Easter'. He writes "I started my original investigation as a spiritual skeptic but after having thoroughly investigated the evidence for the resurrection, I was coming to a startlingly unexpected verdict...The disciples didn't merely believe in the resurrection; they knew whether it was fact or fiction. Had they known it was a lie, they would never have been willing to sacrifice their lives for it." Stroebel concludes that there is insurmountable evidence of the death and resurrection of Christ. He adds "There is no heaven without a resurrection."

My friend Kamal awoke with a dream when a man touched his forehead and said "Wake up Kamal, it's Easter." He woke up his wife and asked, "Do you know what Easter is?" She didn't know. He turned on the TV but there was no news about it. When he went downstairs and asked people loafing around, he got confusing answers. When Joy visited them, he asked "Do you know anything about Easter?" She gladly explained the message of Easter. Several years later while laid up in a hospital bed with a life threatening illness, he recalled when Jesus came to him in a dream and how he heard about Easter for the first time. 

Most of our Muslim friends haven't been given the opportunity to process this truth. Since the Qur'an states that the Jews did not actually kill Jesus nor crucify him, Muslims are predisposed to reject this wonderful message. Perhaps we can help them to look at this again. You may ask, "When do I talk about the Easter story?" Throughout the year! This is the heart of the gospel message.

Dear Jesus, you showed your incredible love by coming to earth to reveal God and in dying as the perfect sacrifice. We rejoice that you demonstrated power over everything, including death. We worship you, our risen Lord. Amen.

Mary

"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" Luke 1:42(Elizabeth).

Pastor Joel mentioned that his parents bought a Nativity set. His father had to make one correction before placing them on their lawn. Mary had a halo over her head! So he sawed it off. Catholics and Evangelicals have treated this verse very differently. Evangelicals just kind of ignore the first part. To focus on Mary seems "so catholic".

Mary comes into Luke's narrative when the angel Gabriel breaks the news to her that she'd become pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit with Jesus. Mary's response to this shocking news was "I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to accept whatever he wants..." Luke 1:38. Mary had no idea what the future would hold. She didn't know that Joseph had an earthshaking dream with instructions to marry her in spite of the potential fall-out. He was willing to be the safe umbrella Mary needed and the surrogate father to Jesus.

In "A Bonhoeffer Advent Reflection: “Mary”, Joel Willistts writes that Bonhoeffer considers Luke 1:46-55 as the oldest Advent hymn. "...It is the most passionate, most vehement, one might say, most revolutionary Advent hymn ever sung. It is not the gentle, sweet, dreamy Mary that we so often see portrayed in pictures, but the passionate, powerful, proud, enthusiastic Mary, who speaks here. None of the sweet, sugary, or childish tones that we find so often in our Christmas hymns, but a hard, strong, uncompromising song of bringing down rulers from their thrones and humbling the lords of this world, of God’s power and of the powerlessness of men. These are the tones of the prophetic women of the Old Testament: Deborah, Judith, Miriam, coming alive in the mouth of Mary."

No wonder we have such a strong claim in The Chaldean Creed: "...of Mary the Virgin, the Godbearer, one and same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures..." Mary has a very esteemed role in fulfillment of the OT prophecies. It took a gutsy, spirit-led woman to be willing to give birth, raise and walk with Jesus right to the end of his earthly life. Mary was Jesus' first disciple!

Muslims have a high regard for Maryam(Mary). In fact, she is the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur'an. Surah 19 is dedicated to Maryam. It too confirms the virgin birth. Even though this Surah is considered by Muslims to be somewhat like Luke 1, it lacks the historical details and the reason behind God's intervention. One of the emphasis is on denying the divine nature of Jesus, the Messiah. It wants the listener to be convinced that Jesus was merely another prophet sent with a book.

Pastor Joel summarizes "Why is the virgin birth so important?
1. The virgin birth is a reminder that our salvation is supernatural.
2. If God can work seemingly impossible in the matter of the virgin birth, he is also able to accomplish the seemingly impossible task of granting a new birth to sinners.
3. The uniqueness of the virgin birth reveals the character of the Messiah and the nature of the kingdom."

Dear Lord, birth in me a greater sense of Mary's willingness to be part of your great plan to bring Salvation to Muslims. Amen.

Belonging

Brother Nathan shared about Ministry to Muslims (click) in Great Britain. We came up with some thoughts about a 'Muslim Background Believer'(Mbb) friendly church.

Once the news gets out that Ahmed, a former Muslim is following Christ and has been baptized, it's 'game-over' for his connections to the wider 'ummah'. He will no longer be invited to Muslim community events like weddings or Eid parties. Ahmed can't even take part in a funeral. His own family will likely desert him because of the unforgiveable shame he has brought on them.

As a result, believers like Ahmed need to belong to a body of 'Christ followers'. Otherwise they will be like spiritual orphans and are left vulnerable.

When Ahmed steps into church, he is crossing huge personal barriers. During his whole life he was told Islam is superior to Christianity. Now he embraces the Good News but wonders if we will accept him. We as believers need to be there to welcome him--the more the merrier. My single Turkish believer friend Eyad has tried visiting churches. When no-one greeted him after a few tries, he gave up. In any fellowship, people who have cultural sensitivity are as good as gold. Like 'attentive waiters' in a restaurant, they anticipate the needs of the Mbb newcomer or a seeker in church and do something about it.

It's helpful if the pastor understands Ahmed's mindset and needs. We normally give our pastor a heads up if a Muslim or a new believer plans to come to church for the first time. Lately, our pastor prepared abbreviated sermon notes. It's easier to guide the visitor to the right passage so he can follow along. We also like to introduce our guest to the pastor. It makes the guest feel special. Mbb's generally look up to a pastor and will very quickly trust one that cares for him. We also sense teamwork between us and the pastor.

I smiled at a line on a resume of a 'not-yet-follower of Christ' who was volunteering at a Salvation Army's food program and described his responsibility there as 'community missionary'! If we apply this to church...it goes a long way to include an Mbb in the community life of the church after it becomes obvious that he is settling there. Once he feels secure, his voice will be heard in sharing times. Ahmed has a new identity now--he is one of us...a child of God. We call him our brother.

My believer friend Qureshi from conservative Pakistan visited 'America' in the summertime. When his host took him to church, he was seated next to a young lady with a very short skirt. The poor guy, he didn't know where to look! As an 'attentive waiter', I'll try to lead Ahmed to a group that normally dresses modestly.

Other distractions include loud music, Bibles lying on the floor or a service being very casual including humor. These are some shocking adjustments the new believer has to make. When we sense that something is going over his head in church, we take the time to explain and fill in the gaps. We try to lead the way for Ahmed to feel at home in the family of God and grow in Christ.

Dear Jesus, thank-you for the opportunity to serve by welcoming new believers. Their presence enriches us. Amen.

Thanksgiving

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits..." Psalm 103:2.

At Thanksgiving it's natural to ask our Muslim friends, "What are you thankful for?" It can open up interesting conversations. I like to do this in my English Conversation groups. Because of how it was birthed, we have a wonderful opportunity to give praise to God. "On Thursday, January 31, 1957, the Parliament of Canada made a proclamation stating: "A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed--to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October." 

I love this Thanksgiving chair (click) video clip. I don't want to spoil the story line but briefly it's about a man who was reminded throughout a day that he still has much to be thankful for.

It was fun trying this on the All Nations Sports Club boys. We had a 15-20 minute 'God talk' half time. They formed a semicircle in the gym around the whiteboard that doubled as our projection screen. This time I placed a chair in front of the group with a Happy Thanksgiving helium balloon attached. We watched the video clip and then I explained: “Now, we’ll each take a turn, sit on the chair, and talk about one thing you are thankful for, stuff you really mean. They were animated. We started with Fristen(junior leader from Congo). He very nicely shared about being thankful for his parents, a peaceful country, and that he can go to school. Amazing that each boy including the leaders eagerly took a turn with sitting on the ‘Thanksgiving chair’. Some shared about being thankful for the club and good snacks. Iman gets on the chair and says he is thankful for legs…the others burst out laughing. I intervened…”LISTEN.” So he went on to explain how he gets together with a group of young soccer players at a park near his home. And he continued how he is thankful for his mom, etc. He didn’t want to get off the chair! After he went back to his chair I shared a story of a Chinese university student who stayed with us for a while many years ago. She grew up as a communist and wondered who to thank for good things that happened to her. After she got to Canada she heard about God and how generous he is. Soon she became a follower of Jesus.

I love the harvest when the hum of combines can be heard late into the evening, bringing in the "bountiful harvest". We have much to be thankful for, don't we? Comparing my life to scenes on the evening news, I don't deserve this more than anyone else. But God has allowed me to enjoy them.

My refugee friend, a believer from Sudan drove this thought home. He had come from a camp where conditions were very bad. But the cold weather during a Canadian winter got to him. One day as he was shivering and waiting for the bus he heard the cheerful chirp of a bird sitting on the power lines. He began thinking--"If that bird can sing in the middle of winter, why should I feel sorry for myself?"

Dear God, thank-you for your numerous good gifts. You are a loving and generous Heavenly Father. Amen. 

Addressing Slaves

From a famous and radical sermon: "I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood." Martin Luther King Jr., I have a Dream.

Slavery in the USA was finished with Abraham Lincoln's emancipation bill but segregation between whites and blacks had not been realized fully even in a 100 years. Praise God much progress has been made since this speech.

Sermons at the mosque are usually predicable. First there are readings from the Qur'an in Arabic. Then what often follows are admonitions to be better Muslims.

The format is something like this: The preacher stands by the niche in the front of the mosque which also indicates the correct direction for Islamic prayer. He gives his 'Salam' followed by the prayer call. The preacher then gives readings or recitations from the Qur'an in Arabic followed by the first part of his sermon and ends it with a prayer from the Qur'an. The sermon is divided into two parts. The second half of the sermon starts with praise to God and 'Salam' to Mohamed. It ends with a prayer from the Qur'an.

I recently took a group of Bible college students for a visit to Friday prayers. This time there was a visiting scholar who addressed the faithful as 'slaves of Allah'. His message was that God is love but with conditions. The speaker claimed that God shows love to the believers if they 1) obey Mohamed 2) follow the rules of Islam and 3) show love to fellow Muslims. Then he went on to say that suffering or testing is a sign of God's love. It's an opportunity to work off sins. He emphasized that we all sin. Even catching a cold is an opportunity to pay for sins. He said the backslidden are not tested as much by Allah. If a Muslim passes the test of suffering he has a better chance at entering heaven.

A Muslim 'slave' is obligated to follow all the rules of Islam. He has no rights and can't question God, his master. What is decreed for him will come to pass. He is a slave of God until he dies.

The radical message of the New Testament is that we have the right to become sons and daughters of God. We are given assurance of sins forgiven and a place in heaven if we accept his offer of salvation and covenant(permanent) relationship.

The words "bondservant or slave and servant" used as metaphors in the New Testament indicate absolute devotion to Jesus. Paul, Timothy, James, Peter and Jude all describe themselves as "bondservants of Christ". This was their response to Jesus.

Jesus said "my burden is light"(Matthew 11:30). We receive immense benefits when we go Jesus way. We receive freedom in Christ. I too want to respond --"here's my life, take and use it."

My Muslim friend welcomed input from non-Muslims when he arrived. Sadly, as he becomes more settled into the Muslim community, he has become rigid in his thinking. Halal and haram are now very important words to him.

Dear God, I pray for my Muslim friends who are holding on to the only identity they know. I pray that they would seek freedom. Amen.

Fishers of Men

Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19.

In this metaphor Jesus promises to teach Peter and Andrew the ‘Secrets of Effective Evangelism.’ So, what are some tested and effective principles?

1.  Friendliness

Fish are drawn into the net or to a lure that looks like lunch.

In evangelism, ability to relate to a Muslim is key—to draw them in. Showing a genuine interest in his life is a good first step. And the only way connections happen with Muslims apart from programs is by us taking the initiative.

Friendliness gets me in the door.

2.  Availability

If a person wants to catch fish, he has to be available on their schedule. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus after dark when he wouldn’t be noticed by others.

With Muslim men who are ultra-busy I have to work around their family responsibilities, work, and community events. 

Paul said, “This one thing I do.” Fishing does require focus. Muslim evangelism flows smoother if this is a priority.  

Availability puts me on their schedules or calendar.

3. Wisdom

Each kind of fish has their preferred habitat.

It takes time to understand a Muslim man, his needs and where there is a point of entry into his life.

With men the conversation often drifts over to politics and religion. We are more interested in the kingdom of heaven. At other times, men try to convert me. It’s their obligation. A personal testimony helps shift the focus to 'how God has changed me.'

It’s important for our friends to actually read scripture before they talk about faith a lot. Great conversations can start from asking about their faith. And then turn around with having the last word using the Bible.

There are times when we hear the Spirit saying, "you’ve done your part". We showed a particular International student love and care numerous times. In the final end, he rejected the message.

Wisdom helps me to understand the way to a Muslim’s heart.

4. Flexibility

I was fishing with a friend. Nothing seemed to work so I changed bait and hooks. Finally the fish started biting.

Ironically, this friend I was fishing with is on a search for purpose and meaning in life and I’ve been trying various ways to keep the spiritual conversation going. We brace ourselves for the tough questions Muslims will ask us. And then we find out that few of them raise any objections. In fact, I’m meeting ‘Muslim’ atheists and agnostics.

I’ve found that the approach varies with each person—one method doesn’t fit all. So, flexibility is important. The Holy Spirit helps me discern if there is spiritual hunger. 

Flexibility helps me to be relevant.  

God has called us into action. The goal in our 'fishing' is in others being reconciled with God and with each other. Like fishing for fish, fishing for men—sometimes it seems there is so much wasted time. We don’t easily give up. We so badly want to deliver the message Jesus has for them.

Our Iranian friend drew up a landscape plan for our simple house. He strategically placed trees, bushes and decorative shrubs to put the focus on the entrance—the door. God sends us to strategic spots to direct Muslims to the Door—to Jesus. You and I are God’s messengers.

Remember?

"Muslim kids 3 or 4 years old in Toronto are being taught about *beheading* on Youtube", stated a friend. We googled the subject and found it. In today's climate, the video clip is ripe for misunderstanding. It took place at a Muslim school where kids re-enacted part of Shia Muslims' history(Ashura) similar to how Christians re-enact the crucifixion of Christ. Ashura falls on Aug. 8th this year.

We had only been in Pakistan for a week. My wife and I with our 2 year old daughter went for a stroll in the bazaar of the town we made our first home. All was going well until we approached a mosque. The doors flung open, people poured out and men were wailing and beating themselves with chains and ropes until their chests and backs bled. Our instinct was to get out of what appeared to be a dangerous situation. What we didn't know was that on this very day, the 10th of the Islamic month of Muharram(Ashura) Shia Muslims commemorate the brutal martyrdom of Hussain, their first leader.

In the West, during Muharram Shias gather at their mosques for potlucks and remember the death of Hussain. We asked one of our friends what they do. "We cry". It all happens within the four walls of the mosque. In the West, people on the outside don't know about this event.

A few years ago I heard a Sunni Muslim give a sermon during Friday prayers at the mosque. According to tradition Muhammed came to Medina and saw Jews fasting on the 10th of Muharram(Ashura). They were doing so in memory of the Children of Israel rescued from Pharoah. So Muhammed fasted that day and told Muslims to fast.

The Sunni-Shia split happened after Muhammed died and there was a dispute over who should be the new leader. Sunnis appointed the new leader(Caliph) but Shias insisted on Hussain, the grandson of Muhammed to be the new leader. There were several battles fought over this issue which ended with Hussain being killed. To this day these two Muslim groups remain distant from each other and sometimes clash. Shias who represent 15% of Muslims focus on their saints. They erect shrines where they go for pilgrimages, believing that the dead saints will intercede to God on their behalf.

Is there something redemptive we can use for witness to Muslims during Muharram? Don McCurry, in the following quote from 'Healing the Broken Family of Abraham: New Life for Muslims' points to a connection between Christians, Jews, and Shia Muslims:

"Shias believe Hussain(martyred at Karbala in A.D. 680) died for his people. In other words, there is in Shia Islam an idea of vicarious atonement. The Shias celebrate this martyrdom during the first ten days of the first month of the Muslim calendar(Muharram) with passion plays re-enacting the suffering and martyrdom of Hussain, which reach a climax on the tenth day of Muharram. As pointed out earlier, the tenth of Muharram corresponds to Ashura, the Jewish Day of Atonement(Yum Kippur)."

Shia Muslims are responsive to the suffering Messiah. Isaiah 53 is a good starting point for discussions.

Lord Jesus, we pray that we would be instruments of comfort and hope especially for the Shias around the world who remember their first leader but also suffer from persecution from within their religion. Amen.

The Hajj

"...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith... Hebrews 12:2

Eid al Adha(The Sacrifice) is one of the rituals during the annual Hajj season. Every Muslim needs to complete this pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia at least once in their lifetime. The focus is on seeking Allah's forgiveness. The Hajj involves 5 days of prescribed activities. See Hajj (click).

Going on the Hajj is a huge expense for poor Muslims. Rahmat was the foreman of the crew I supervised at a church-run hospital in Pakistan. He saved up all his working years to go on the Hajj. When his application for the pilgrimage was finally accepted based on a quota system, Rahmat prepared diligently with special lessons. Since he never travelled far beyond his village, Rahmat was in for a BIG shock to see busy airports and extravagance. He was left speechless to see masses of people from different nations going through the various stages of the Hajj.

'Daoud', a troubled Christian young man employed by the hospital, spent hours with a Muslim auditor who came periodically. After one of these visits, the local Imam announced over the mosque's loudspeakers that Daoud had converted to Islam. I asked Daoud what brought him to this decision. He said, "Christianity has no centre like Mecca." I said something like "Christianity's centre is Jesus". Our qibla(direction of prayer) has no earthly co-ordinates.

Do the maths...just over 2 million people(1/3 from Saudi Arabia) are allowed to go on the Hajj every year. With 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide, the vast majority of Muslims will never have a chance to go on the Hajj. Yet this is a key requirement(in Muslim understanding) that increases one's chances of getting into heaven. But they also have a system of sending someone as a proxy to perform the Hajj for another Muslim unable to travel or if ceremonially unclean. There are many desperate Muslims who go on the Hajj. Every year many elderly are injured or even crushed to death by the throngs of people. Numerous Muslims go on an Umra, also called the 'lesser Hajj'. Btw, did you know that Mecca is closed to all non-Muslims?

Muslims talk about being awestruck when they enter the 'Sacred Mosque' in Mecca built around the Kaaba--the focus of their ritualistic prayers. No doubt there is a ton of synergy. Wouldn't it be wonderful if Muslims on the Hajj would have a vision of Jesus?

Sadly, most Muslims are unaware or cannot accept the fact that all the Hajj rituals predated Islam--they were adopted from paganism! Most Muslims haven't heard or understood that only through Jesus' sacrifice can our sins be forgiven and through him we have hope of entering heaven. Jesus' followers are called 'children of God'--far better than being called 'hajji' after completion of the Hajj.

We too are on a pilgrimage. "This world is not my home, I'm justa' passin' through..." we used to sing. The focus of our pilgrimage is Jesus. In heaven we'll worship and celebrate forever in the presence of God. This is the very best news mankind can ever receive. And the invitation to join in this pilgrimage is open to everyone!

Oh Lord Jesus, have mercy on Muslims who perform the hajj this year. Please meet them, even at the Kaaba and show them the way to God. Amen.

Eid al Fitr

See Praying for the Muslim world (click) for a daily prayer guide.

"...imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one...'Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!' Count on it--that's the kind of party God's angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God." Luke 15:10 The Message

Ahmed said "The last ones to see the new moon are sometimes the first to see the crescent moon." In other words, there is a reluctance to fast so you avoid it or finish ASAP.

For Muslims who fast Ramadan it's been an arduous month of discipline and sheer determination to follow the rules. Some read through the entire Qur'an and abstain from anything that they would consider to contaminate the soul. They are relieved that it's over again although some are saddened by it coming to a close. Once the moon appears again 29 or 30 days later, Muslims prepare for a party, their Eid celebration.

On Eid day Muslims get up in the morning, take a shower/bath and get dressed in new clothes or their best clothes. The first step is to go to the mosque for Eid prayers. If there isn't enough space then a bigger venue is rented to accommodate the crowd. There is no prayer call for the Eid prayers even in Muslim countries. Over there it's common for the mosque crowd to spill over onto the street, blocking the traffic. You just got to wait until they are done.

Following the Eid prayers, they go around congratulating each other and hugging. Now they are free to eat or drink all day. All grudges are to be forgiven. Its a new start of broken relationships or a renewal of friendships. I remember some of the invitations we used to get for Eid celebrations. We knew our hosts wanted to go and visit their Muslim friends so we had just a limited amount of time to chat with them and eat the special foods they had prepared. In Muslim majority countries this is normally a 3 or 4 day holiday.

Parents or other relatives often give their kids gifts during Eid to buy candy or toys. It is common for the religious to make extra donations during the month of Ramadan to assist the poor or underprivileged. Some years ago Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Al Waleed donated a jaw dropping $32 billion "to foster cultural understanding, empower women, and provide vital disaster relief, among other things."

What response should we make when Eid arrives? When practicing Muslims go around to congratulate one another with 'Eid Mubarak' they really do view this as an accomplishment and during Eid prayers pray that God would accept these religious deeds and reward them. It's very much a 'Muslim event'. So Muslim friends don't normally invite us to Eid celebrations. We prefer waiting for a few days and then be in touch with them and ask "How was your Eid?" or "How did you celebrate?" rather than congratulating them. Muslims assimilated into western society don't celebrate like their older relatives. Some don't want to take extra time off and just keep the celebrations simple.

Dear God, now that Ramadan is coming to a close help me to re-engage with my Muslim friends and continue sharing the Good News that can make the whole year blessed. Amen.

Ramadan Conflicts

"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people...plead for God's mercy upon them..." 1 Timothy 2:1

We've been telling our Muslim friends that we are praying for Muslims every day during Ramadan(click)...that God would speak to them.

"I am worried about my family in Yemen." said a distraught friend. We feel for her. Millions of lives are being effected by war. Moments like these are opportunities of promising to pray or to offer a short prayer in their presence.

Jihadist groups have left behind a trail of brutality with thousands dead in their wake. Its mostly Muslims destroying Muslims. So much for Muslims saying that Satan retreats from Muslims during Ramadan! As a result, refugees keep pouring across borders, attempting to cross the Mediterranean at great cost and peril. Several years ago we wrote the following in 'Your Muslim Friend': "Muslims are now residing in all major cities and even in rural areas in the West. Some of them have found western nations to be a safe refuge from the trauma of war and displacement. Those fleeing political and religious persecution are breathing new freedom..."

Once while having a group Bible study we came to Luke 6:27 & 28: "But if you are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for the happiness of those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you..." With that an Afghan man closed the Bible he was holding and said "If this is the teaching of the Injeel, I don't want to study any more." He wasn't ever going to forgive the Taliban who destroyed his life.

What does this mean for us? Since the fighting continues even during Ramadan, we can pray that God would bring peace to these troubled lands. How will Muslims forgive and forget all the atrocities committed against their own people? We know that only Jesus can change hearts and give the strength to forgive. In spite of experiencing shame, injustice and unimaginable cruelty, he prayed "Father forgive them for they don't know what they are doing." A few years ago our black American brothers and sisters gave an amazing demonstration of what forgiveness looks like following the horrific shooting of 9 of their own at the Charleston, South Carolina church.

Muslims who have immigrated to the West appreciate the tolerance shown in our society. It causes some to think and dare to ask questions. Why is life easier for us in the West? Why isn't Islam working? Where does all this hate come from? Why do we have to continue to defend Islam as the 'religion of peace'? Sad to say, many Muslims who come to the West are finished with religion and become agnostics and atheists. They are very disillusioned. Its not religion that these dear people need but a relationship with God. He gives comfort, hope, and peace to the ones who are seeking. God has brought Muslims to the West to hear and experience this truth.

Jesus beckons and promises "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Consider the beautiful words, composed by a friend, in Song for Ishmael (click):

"...I am still here

I am listening

I hear your cry Ishmael

Don't give up now,

There is blessing to come.

God provides for you Ishmael..."

Two Kingdoms

"May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10

Wanting to talk about the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of Earth, I asked my two Somali friends about their take on the current events in the Middle East. The talk shifted to 9-11.

"Muslims would never fly planes into buildings", my Somali friend 'Ahmed' said emphatically. "These were cargo planes hijacked by someone." "The twin towers were detonated..." On and on he talked and listed a half dozen 'textbook examples of conspiracy theories'. It's not difficult to find credible answers to counter each of these on the internet. But I want to give rebuttals carefully. It gives me an opportunity to give gracious answers. Remember the old adage "win the battle(or argument) but lose the war(or relationship)"?

I feel for 'Ahmed'. He comes from an honor and shame paradigm that doesn't allow Muslims or Islam to look bad.

When we look at events in the Middle East spilling over into the West, it's all about domination. In 'Ahmed's mind the problems of today are caused by superpowers or past colonizers. Yes, the current political climate is related to what happened in history but the future lies with those in power today. That's why 'Ahmed' is here. It's not working.

Jesus preached the Kingdom of Heaven. Hebrews 12:22 reads, "No, you have come...to the heavenly Jerusalem."  The focus is on justice, peace, love and proclaiming the Good News...not Real Estate. Its all about reconciliation between God and man and man with man.

My brothers and sisters, we need to revisit what the Kingdom of God(heaven) means in 2021. Could we say the Sermon on the Mount is like the 'constitution of the Kingdom of God'? I shared with my seeker friend 'Farid' how this focus is in the Beatitudes. How much better does it get than "God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.."? Matthew 5:7-9. 'Farid' loves these verses. They bring peace to his heart.

'Ahmed' is processing what he has seen since coming to the West. The process can't be hurried. An Eastern Christian friend met 'Ahmed' and pushed the Gospel Message on him without befriending him. My relationship with 'Ahmed' has never quite been the same.

It takes time and much prayer to break down cultural and religious barriers to the Good News. It's often like taking off layers of an onion, one at a time. And it usually takes Friendship First! Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gives it urgency "If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority.” ~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

Dear Heavenly Father, my Muslim friends are worried about world events. Help me to show them that Jesus is the Prince of Peace, the only hope for the Nations. Amen.

Empowered, Engaged and Equipping

The brochure we developed for In Canada Missions emphasizes Empowered to Serve, Engaged in Outreach and Equipping others. Currently church attendance in our context is limited. We are blessed that a church nearby has a lighted cross for all to see! That is a great testimony. Another uses their signage creatively to give meaningful messages. A few are offering prayer and helpful practical help.

More than ever it is vital that Christians are Empowered to Serve. It was God's idea in the first place "go and make disciples...you will receive power from on high." We don't need to wait for the church doors to re-open to show love and connect with a neighbor. Home Depot's motto used to be 'You can do it, we can help'. That's being empowered. God's people need to be encouraged to serve--you can do it. We all have a unique assignment from God.

The second part puts some feet to that encouragement--Engaged in Outreach. The needs have probably never been as great as during the Pandemic. There are many frightened, lonely and hurting people out there. We as God's people can be the hands, feet and mouth of Jesus in fleshing out his love for the nations around us. When we are locked down it may be 'hi' from our driveway, a WhatsAp or Zoom conversation. We have tried to lead by example in doing this regularly, even in lock-down. We have prayed for our Muslim and believer friends virtually. There are limitations. On the other hand there are many opportunities to serve others this way. For example, a few weeks ago a brother from Muslim background needed a car. Travelling to work, medical appointments and shopping was getting increasingly more difficult as winter set in. After numerous consults about Carfax about specific cars, he was able to narrow down his search and purchased a car he is pleased with. At other times we've studied the Word(Bible) over Zoom or prayed for a friend. 

As we age, we want to multiply our efforts--Equipping Others. There are many lessons we've learned along the way in 40 years of ministry to Muslims and believer friends. We love sharing these lessons with God's people. Luke writes "The harvest is great, but the workers are few..." Very few of our friends are drawn to Christian websites without a friendship with a follower of Jesus. While methods like 'Disciple Making Movement' are great--they start with a friendship and trust and ultimately deepen if there is spiritual hunger and thirst. Where does spiritual hunger and thirst come from? That's where intercessory prayer on the long haul comes in. While we can't spend a lot of time with our Muslim friends these days, we view them as our parish that we care for. This is called Pastoral Evangelism. 

I suggest prayerfully consider who God would want you to give attention and care to. Once they are on your list, it's good to touch base with them regularly. Some days I have what I consider productive spiritual conversations, other days it's just keeping in touch. You never know what will help a friend start a journey to Jesus.

Dear Heavenly Father...please remind my brothers and sisters that they are already empowered to serve and are on assignment from you. Help them to discover this--discovering their 'mission' for life. Amen.

  

The End - The Beginning

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:19

We have just passed the threshold again of an old year passing and a new one ushered in. What will the new year hold?

A major event this New Year's is the memorial of Bishop Tutu. What a great man he was who lived by the words of Jesus to forgive those who were behind apartheid. He was a great unifier!

Asif is gloomy about the new year. He has already heard several reports of major violence in the region of the world he came from. He is bracing himself for more.

On the other hand, with political changes happening around the world, some wonder if this is signaling the end of the world. Many of my Muslim friends are frightened.

I've been blessed by the message in 'The Book of Mysteries', that in God's economy the end ushers in a new beginning--"I am doing a new thing..."

"...Tabernacles is the last feast of the sacred year. It's the greatest celebration and it comes at the end...In the world...the greatest things come at the beginning. Everything starts out young, and then gets older and older...But the Feast of Tabernacles reveals the kingdom of God, it's the opposite. The greatest celebration comes at the end. So if you live in God's power, you don't move from life to death, but from death to life." from  'The Book of Mysteries'

We were reminded this morning that 'Immanuel'--one of the names of the Messiah is composed of 3 Hebrew words. 'Eem' means 'with'. And the word for 'us' is 'anu'. The word for God in Hebrew is 'El'. So now we have 'Eem-anu-El'-'with us is God'. From this we have Immanuel. Isn't that wonderful?

So Immanuel is with us in 2022. Immanuel(God with us) in good times. Immanuel in hard times. Asif has reason to be gloomy about the end of the world. He doesn't have any assurance that things will end well. His Shia friends talk about the Mahdi will come out of the shadows and make things right in the world while his Sunni friends talk about Jesus returning and destroying pigs and all crosses and forcing everyone to become Muslims. Many hope for the 'Golden era of Islam' to return. When will this happen? No-one knows.

The assurance the Injeel gives to the world is the message of 'Immanuel'. Asif doesn't yet have the assurance that 'God is with us". When Immanuel is here, all will be fine. Eem-anu-El(God is with us) in the storm.

Partners in the Gospel, let's move into 2022 with confidence. God is at work in the hearts of Muslims around the world. In 2021 we personally saw God draw Muslims to himself. What a privilege to be there to welcome them into God's kingdom!

The best is yet to come! Happy New Year.

Lord Jesus, Thank-you for giving us this past year to reflect you in this world. Help me to be even more effective in communicating with Muslim friends and new believers about you. Amen.