Remembering and honoring Americans who have protected our country
Today is Memorial Day, the day we have established as a nation to honor our veterans and our armed forces of today and yesterday. There have been hundreds of thousands of 'ordinary' service-people who deserve honor and recognition. But there have also been soldiers that deserve a higher recognition for their bravery and self-sacrifice for the cause of saving others. The excellent WW2 film "Hacksaw Ridge" portrays a superior example of such a soldier, Desmond Doss, who was Christ-like in several ways. The 2016 film, "Hacksaw Ridge" was made to celebrate his example.
*Republished from May 29, 2017.
Why we are so much more inclined toward over-eating than under-eating
by Mert Hershberger
Why do we feast? No, that is not a misspelling. But wait, you say, feasting is the polar opposite of fasting, and it's Ramadan. So shouldn't we talk about fasting. Well, we have. Besides, Ramadan is as much about feasting as it is about fasting. So again, why do we feast? In the first book of the Tawrat, Genesis, the first three chapters give us the creation narrative where Adam and Eve make their debut. The Qur'an contains a similar narrative. In chapter 2 we see the seeds of the pattern of a contrast between feasting and fasting. The one and only law regulated, yes, eating.
How the sacred otherness of God sets him apart from what is sinful
by Sarah MacDonald
If you are observing Ramadan, I'm sure you are fasting and praying more than usual this month. Sura 5:7-9 speaks of Allah having a full knowledge of our innermost thoughts, and because of that we are to fear Allah. The Quran speaks of Allah being aware of all we do. "Allah has promised those who believe and do good deeds forgiveness" (Sura 5:9).
Eddie Yousif has experienced many Ramadans in Iraq and the U.S. Here are his thoughts.
by Eddie Yousif
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.” Sahih Bukhari 31:123
There’s some sort of attraction to Islamic practice. For me, it has been the discipline and the prescription of how to practice this religion. The attraction lies with the dedication as well. There’s also a fault that may be seen by others, and that is…it is practiced out of fear, the fear of entering Hell (Jahannam). This makes Islam a legalistic religion. But then again, with over 4,200 religions in the world today, you’re bound to find a fault in every one!
How fasting should be a focus on the Word of God
by Blaine and Lisa Seisser
Fasting is a discipline to practice and remember our deep need for God. To help us remember that he loves us! At any time of the year or any day a Christian you meet may be fasting from anything. Fasting from food is common, but they may be fasting from sweets, Facebook, shopping, etc., etc. When we give up food in particular we should remember that “man does not live on bread alone but on the very words of God”. In fact, Jesus said that when he faced off with the devil in the wilderness at the end of his 40-day fast (narrated in the Injeel, gospel of Matthew 4:4).