Todos Dias

Everyday.
You give me another chance everyday.
The day before or even the morning of
My thoughts may extend to you through struggle and confusion
Even at times anger but
Everyday your mercies are new
And you reveal to me a little more of your grace and who you are.
Praise the Lord for your all-knowingness,
For the grace and love I cannot fathom.
Praise the Lord for everyday.

Thoughts from Sunday Evening Message

What if we were the disciples and he asked us on the day of his crucifixion, "Follow me. Experience this with me." what if? would we? Would we want to go? Talk about fellowship as the first nail goes into His hands and He screams. then the first nail goes into yours and you scream all the while looking into each others eyes. Intimate Fellowship.




that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
v.10-11

message from Phil. 3:1-11

Another Class Journal

We attended the Islamic Center of San Diego on Tuesday evening with our EWI class. Here is my journal/form post from our visit.


I thoroughly enjoyed going to the mosque. Seeing first hand how the prayer works and hearing our "guide" Atah(?) overview the different things we've been learning be as well as expand on different ideas.

One thing that he said really stuck out to me. (not word for word but the gist...)

"The five prayers a day keep us from sinning, at least the big sins because we know that we are going to be going before Allah in a couple of hours."

This made me think. They have schedule prayers each day while we do not have schedules prayers we are called to "pray continuously" (1 Thes. 5:17) and to approach the throne with confidence (Heb 4:16)...but do we? We scoff at their five schedule prayers a day yet do we even in our liberty go to the Father about everything every part of every day? Do we even go to Him everyday? And I don't mean just before meals. Do we?

Then what of this idea of keeping from sinning? They realize they will be going before Allah and so they try not to sin yet we who are to come before Christ all the time and are no longer slaves to sin (Rom. 6:5-7) because of Christ, I think are all too flippant with knowing of God's grace.

Now I'm not saying this is true of all but I know this is true of myself at times. These are things that we need to be evaluating. Not judging the differences of Islam and Christ Followers, yes see the differences, but do not forget that these people are just as important to Christ as we so to simply judge, what love are we showing?

The difference is that they do not truly know Jesus Christ, the Savior. That's got to rattle us.

Modesty

We are taking an "Encountering the World of Islam" class and part of our homework is to reply to our readings and this is mine from this week.

It is because of modesty. I never understood the significance of the veils that the Muslim women wear but it is because of modesty. Something I'd admire about Muslims (generalization) is their commitment. The Quran speaks of modesty being an important virtue and therefore the women obey. I was once told by a man who worked with Muslims that the reason for the head coverings was to cover up their hair, their beauty and pride. Some even go to the extent of only having their eyes showing. Even men abiding by modesty. In "The Desert Rat: The Remarkable Story of Aileen Coleman" by Annette Adams, Adams speaks of a time when she is visting Aileen in Jordan and a middle eastern man came close to touching her but backed away quickly with his hands raised as if someone were shooting at him, saying that he didn't touch her. For in the Quran is says that a man may not touch a woman unless it is his mother, sister, or wife. Modesty is so highly valued.

When I think of modesty today in our culture, two thoughts run through my mind; 1800s and shame. By the 1800s I mean the era of "Pride and Prejudice" when there was etiquette in regards to many things but specifically when it came to interacting with the opposite sex and in presentation of oneself. but sadly over the years, for whatever reason we now think there is no need for etiquette and then to think modesty is key? ha. It is a sad realization and maybe I am looking at our culture with a pessimistic view but I think of the media. Movies: it is terribly hard to be able to go to a movie nowadays and not have some perverse humor, sex scenes, or women who are barely dressed. Music: songs without perverse messages are a rarity now. Internet: everything and anything. Even checking out in a grocery store there are magazines filled with pornographic images for all the world to see. Then there are girls, even Christ Followers, who don't see clothing their problem. It's the guys' fault if that's what they're thinking. But it's not just girls, guys have their own modesty issues.

When did lack of modesty become okay? Have we become desensitized to such things? I think we need to take a lesson in modesty from our Muslim neighbors.