In the current world climate, where everyone seems bent on putting themselves before all, it is even more important to remember what Easter represents. Of course there is the commercialized ideal of Easter. The candy, the new clothes for spring, the flowers for your mother.
Like most of our important markers of faith, our capitalist society has found a way to make a dime off of them, and that is okay, as long as those of us who profess our faith can also hold to the truer meanings of those markers of faith.
It often seems as though,because of the commercialization of the holiday, Christmas is the big dog among Christian holidays because of the amount of money spent, and the time spent preparing for the holiday. How many times have people most likely said, “we spend so much time buying and wrapping the gifts, and it’s over in minutes of torn paper.”
And of course the birth of Jesus is an important miracle, without which the rest of the story would never have been told.
But though we as capitalist may not spend quite as much time and money on Easter, it is in the Christian faith,the culmination of the Greatest Story Ever Told.
You see, we as Christians believe we are washed of our sins by the blood of the Cross, and the empty Tomb represents the promise of everlasting life. This is our belief, we place our faith in the words of Jesus in giving the promise, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die”.
Personally, I hold this promise close to my heart, it is all that keeps me going some days. I pray everyday others will find the peace of mind I have found in the words of Jesus. I will witness, as I am doing now, to others my saving grace and comfort in the words of Jesus.
Jesus teaches us to love our brothers, to spread the word of God, but to turn away from those who will not hear, and to shake the very dust of their village from our sandals.
In today’s world we find many who will profess their faith in Jesus, they can quote the Gospels chapter and verse, they believe they are righteous. However, the teachings of loving thy brother has either never reached them, or has been lost in the world of man’s materialistic striving to be first, to be strong, to be great.
We are seeing more and more of the so-called Christians speaking about the need to be the only voice of faith, to eradicate other faiths, many times without even the basic understanding of those faiths, but simply because they are not Christian.
I know there are reasons why, we as a nation must defend ourselves against other nations which wish us harm. I also know there are reasons to defend ourselves against individuals who would also do us harm. It is when we allow our fear to drive us to hate others who have done us no harm, who have never intended to do us harm, to hate simply because they are not “LIKE” us, that we have turned our very backs upon the teachings of Jesus.
So, in the current climate of the world, a world full of people who wish us harm, we must still strive for peace, even as we defend ourselves. I believe the first step towards peace with others, is understanding. Take the time to learn about the people you fear, but look beyond the small circles we create as a sanctuary, look beyond the walls of your own church, go out into the world as Jesus instructed, and speak with people about your own faith, but listen to them about theirs.
Recognize that my faith is not diminished simply because another person does not share it. I have not failed in any way if I do not convince them to become a Christian, I only fail if I lose my faith in Jesus.
On this most important day for Christians, I want to wish As-salāmu ʿalaykum to everyone, be they Jewish, Muslim, Christian, or of no faith at all. My God bless us all, may we find our way to the light and everlasting life. We often get distracted by how we find God, the important thing is to find God. God will sort it out later.
He is risen!
Frank, may G-D bless you and your family on this day and forever.
Bean pie, my Brother?
From New Service. A dose of reality…..
….During the last calendar year, some 90,000 Christians were killed for their faith across the globe, making Christians by far the most persecuted group in the world, according to a study from the Turin-based Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR).
The director of CESNUR, Dr. Massimo Introvigne, told Breitbart News that whereas atheistic communist regimes were the greatest persecutors of Christians in the last century, “Islamic ultra-fundamentalism” has taken its place as the number-one agent of persecution.
The Center’s findings corroborate those of other scholars and human rights groups. According to the 2016 “World Watch List,” for example, published by the Open Doors organization, nine out of the top ten countries where Christians suffer “extreme persecution” had populations that are at least 50 percent Muslim.
Their 2016 report revealed that “Islamic extremism is by far the most significant persecution engine” of Christians in the world today and that “40 of the 50 countries on the World Watch List are affected by this kind of persecution.”
During the year, nearly one-third of the Christians killed for their faith were executed at the hands of Islamic extremists such as the Islamic State or Boko Haram….
The religious war has already started. Onward Christian soldiers. Destroy or submit.
I can always count on Rick.
I wonder how many civilian Muslims were killed during that time in the middle east by bombs dropped by Christians? Anybody?
When a group of people, who claim to be acting on behalf of their religion, systematically commit horrible acts like, throwing homosexuals off of rooftops, or drowning people in cages and other such atrocities , what is there to “understand” about those particular people ?
FBH,
You think christians don’t “systematically commit horrible acts” ?
You think christians don’t “systematically commit horrible acts” ?
As Christians? No, I don’t. Perhaps you can enlighten us.
I wonder how many civilian Muslims were killed during that time in the middle east by bombs dropped by Christians?
What “Christians?”
As any “liberal’ (actually, lockstep conformist) will tell you, the United States is not a “Christian” nation; further, they will tell you that the Founders were Deists, not Christians. So, what “Christians: are you talking about?
Many Muslims, living in the 21st Century, cling to a dogma unchanged since 1000 AD. “Infidels,” those who fail to submit to Islam (Islam, in Arabic, means “submission”) are routinely tortured, beheaded, stoned, buried and trampled or otherwise killed on a regular basis. This is a fact.
Funny thing is, “liberals” tend to support Islamists, yet under Muslim rule, homosexuals are killed, women must hide their bodies and remain illiterate- there are no “women’s rights”- there is no free press or entertainment media and so on. What does the “liberal” find so appealing about living under Sharia law?
Rick,
WTF moral difference does it make if christians “systematically commit horrible acts” as something other than christians ? Perhaps you can enlighten us.
So Rick can differentiate between people who call themselves Christian yet commit un-Christian acts from Chrianity , but all Muslims are responsible for the acts of the radical extremist who call themselves Muslim. Open your eyes Rick to your own hypocrisy.
And once again the meaning of Islam is “submit to God” not submit to Islam.
And while I knew this is where this conversation would end up, the post is more about faith than politics. Has it become impossible to separate the two?
WTF moral difference does it make if christians “systematically commit horrible acts”…
Again, what “Christians?” Are you saying that the United States is a “Christian” nation? Yes or no? And if yes, did the United States (and most of Europe) act in the name of Christianity?
Did the allies defeat Hitler and Tojo in the name of Christianity?
Radical Muslims act in the name of Islam. They cite the Koran. Their war is a holy war.
Do the United States and Europe act in the name of Christianity? Do they cite the Bible? Do they demand submission?
….all Muslims are responsible for the acts of the radical extremist who call themselves Muslim.
What do you mean “call themselves Muslim.” They are Muslim. They cite the Koran- accurately.
And once again the meaning of Islam is “submit to God” not submit to Islam…
And once again, you are wrong. The Koran was originally written in Arabic, correct? The definition of “Islam,” as written in Arabic, is submission. Period.
Quit defending filth. Whether it’s Syria, Iraq, Iran or elsewhere in the realm of the “religion of peace,” in most cases where Islam rules, violence, chaos, despotism and ingnorance proliferates.
Maybe you’d feel more comfortable living in Yemen.
Frank continually instructs us about the meaning of the term Islam, as written in Arabic, the language of the Koran. Frank, do you read Arabic? No? Then quit acting like you’re some kind of expert on the Arabic language.
Below are two links- both Muslim oriented- which show that “Islam”- written in Arabic- means “submission.” Period. Islam, in Arabic, means submission.
click here
click here
Since Frank read the Koran (in English), he is now a Muslim scholar. Maybe Frank can now read the Bible, and become the next Pope.
I can’t find Islam on the globe?
“Radical Muslims act in the name of Islam. They cite the Koran. Their war is a holy war.” – rick
And you “know” Muslims act only “in the name of Islam” because your numerous Muslim friends and acquaintances told you so during your extensive travels throughout the Muslim world as you acquired your fluent Arabic.
And you “know” Muslims act only “in the name of Islam” because your numerous Muslim friends…
Not at all. I know because they tell us so. When they detonate suicide bombs on buses or in malls. When they fly passenger airliners into skyscrapers. When they hold mass beheadings. When they throw gays off the roofs of high rises or lower caged Christians into vats of water. They tell us. In the name of Allah, as directed by the “holy” Koran.
The insane Muslim clerks running Iran chant “death to America.” A hatred of America is taught in the schools. There is no religious “tolerance.” With few exceptions, Muslim nations are a dictatorship of zealots.
Muslim nations follow Sharia Law. Religious law. Unlike in the West, here is no separation of church and state. Military and terrorist endeavors are carried forth in the name of Islam.
Send ’em to Allah.
Rick, do you even read the stuff you link to? The final paragraph in the definition on the first link you gave says, “The word does not represent a one-sided relationship, where the believer is enslaved to Allah. Rather, the word Islam indicates a covenant between Allah and his followers, where a Muslim surrenders his or her will to Allah in return for peace or safety.”
“a Muslim surrenders his or her will to Allah”
You see Rick, the word Islam means submit, and when read in the context of the Quran, it means submit to God, which is the entire point of the Quran. Yes I have read the Quran, and it repeats the idea of submitting to God, no where does it state men must submit to other men, in fact it says the exact opposite. All glory and power is given to God. Does that sound a little familiar?
And I have also read the entire Bible several times over, and I don’t consider myself a scholar of either, but I can develop an opinion and speak about both. Unlike you, who form your opinion of the Quran without having read it beyond the hate-sites you frequent.
“I know because they tell us so” – rick
Who are “they” . And how do you “know” if “they” are representative of Muslims generally, if you don’t know who “they” are.
It’s evident that you’re long on assertions, but short on facts.
Frank, the word Islam, written in Arabic, translates to “submission.” Period.
I don’t care about the ecclesiastical interpretation. Islam means submission in Arabic.
Who are “they” . And how do you “know” if “they” are representative of Muslims generally, if you don’t know who “they” are.
I don’t care if they represent Muslims “generally.” The radical leadership of Iran represents the Islamic State of Iran, right? And they are Muslims, right?
Osama bin Ladin was Muslim, right?
The Blind Sheik was Muslim, right?
Muslims in general- so-called “good” Muslims- are either cowards, utterly inept or conspirators in the plan to decimate infidels. With very few exceptions, Muslim states- those guided by Sharia- are violent, backward, militaristic hell-holes run by fanatics. Right?
They kill Christians merely because they are Christian.
They kill gays merely because they are gay.
They kill anyone who speaks out against them.
You welcome “good” Muslims. Would the Muslims of Yemen, Iran, Libya and so on welcome you?
Why do “good Muslims” allow themselves to be ruled by violent terrorists, throughout the Islamic world? Why?
You, delacrat (and Frank) are naive suckers for butt-kiss Muslim propaganda. Meanwhile, the Islamic invasion of Europe, which, excepting Iberia, always failed, will finally succeed, thanks to the “good Muslims are welcome” stupidity of Western leaders. We’ll see how “liberals” like ceding vast swaths of territory to the Caliphate and later how well they respond to direct military engagement when the Islamicists finally decide to finish the job- which will happen once they feel they have the numbers, say 30% of the population. The clerics realize that naive “liberal” leaders (sharing the same mentality as you and Frank) are too politically correct and too cowardly to defend Western Civilization. They will capitulate.
Luckily, this is not the case in Russia, the Baltic states, Poland and most of Northern Europe (Scandinavia excepted). Just as the Northern European man crushed Rome, it will be left to the last vestige of Western manhood to eliminate the Muslim scourge- hopefully, totally and permanently.
Send ’em to Allah.
Rick, you do realize your rhetoric about what to do with Muslims, “send them to Allah”, closely mirrors the rhetoric of the radical Muslims? Is that your Christian principles speaking?
Rick, you do realize your rhetoric about what to do with Muslims, “send them to Allah”, closely mirrors the rhetoric of the radical Muslims?
Absolutely. When someone threatens to kill me and destroy my culture, I don’t smile like a common simpleton.
Is that your Christian principles speaking?
No, I am not religious.
But I do have enough common sense to realize that fanatics who fly passenger aircraft into skyscrapers, trigger bombs at marathons, malls and buses and start religious wars while chanting “death to America” are to be taken seriously. At some point, you may grasp the concept “kill or be killed.”
Unlike you, I am not susceptible to politically-correct orthodoxy and propaganda. Unlike you, I am not obsessed with trying to prove how “reasonable” or “accommodating” I am. Unlike you, I am a realist.
Iran- a Muslim state run by Muslim clerics- is a sponsor of terrorism through the the world. Egypt is run by the Muslim Brotherhood and Libya by ISIS. These are organizations dedicated to the destruction of the West. Period. They don’t believe in conversion as an individual decision but rather a forced submission to Islam; the term “Islam,” in the Arabic language in which the Koran was written, means “submission.” And that’s what they seek- submission- or more acurately, capitulation.
Unlike you, I recognize an enemy when I see it. And unlike you, I won’t kiss the enemies ass.
Read a few history books and you’ll see that wherever Islam spreads, with very few exceptions, chaos, despotism, conquest, violence and an enforced rigid social order is a common denominator.
Muslims are so fanatical that they have been at war with each other over the chain of succession of a man who died 1300 years ago. A millennium of insanity. Perhaps that’s why in many Muslim countries, they’re still stuck in the 10th Century. These lunatics possess nuclear weapons in Pakistan, and will soon have them in the Islamic State of Iran. You don’t think they’ll use them?
I am not interested in the invisible “good Muslims.” They have no power or influence. The lunatics running the show Iran, ISIS, Yemen and so on do have power. And they hate Cnristianity, Judism and the West In general. They tell us so.
Go ahead and submit. It suits you.
Rick says, “Unlike you, I recognize an enemy when I see it.” The problem is Rick you see enemies behind every tree. I prefer to deal with actual enemies not perceived enemies. You on the other hand choose to make enemies of all who do not agree with you.
Our lying Muslim-loving former President and his Iran “deal.” The question is, should Our Little Red Star be tried for treason?
…..In his Sunday morning address to the American people, Obama portrayed the seven men he freed as “civilians.” The senior official described them as businessmen convicted of or awaiting trial for mere “sanctions-related offenses, violations of the trade embargo.”
In reality, some of them were accused by Obama’s own Justice Department of posing threats to national security. Three allegedly were part of an illegal procurement network supplying Iran with U.S.-made microelectronics with applications in surface-to-air and cruise missiles like the kind Tehran test-fired recently, prompting a still-escalating exchange of threats with the Trump administration. Another was serving an eight-year sentence for conspiring to supply Iran with satellite technology and hardware. As part of the deal, U.S. officials even dropped their demand for $10 million that a jury said the aerospace engineer illegally received from Tehran….
The whole sick story, from today’s Politico…
click here
This is almost unbelievable. Are Obama a and Kerry insane, or do they just hate America as much as Iran does?
Do you people ever self reflect on how obsessed your are with tribal religious resentments and how that makes you look to sane people?
Did you read the Politico report?
No.
Do you realize how your lockstep diversion dance looks to sane people? Clue; I suppose not. Hence, the Trump presidency.
I’m a secret Muslim after your white girls