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Posts Tagged ‘Islam’

Searching for a Father

Posted in Muslims, Prayer, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 5, 2016| Leave a Comment »

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Searching for a Father is an inside look into Ramadan to equip you to pray for Muslims.

But it’s more than a prayer guide. It’s a story that draws a human portrait of the experiences and challenges many Muslims encounter – Frontiers

Searching for a Father is a great guide to help you pray for the millions of Muslims who don’t know Christ during the month of Ramadan (June 5—July 5). Frontiers hopes to join Christians around the world to ask the Lord to lead many Muslims to discover the answers to their souls’ deepest questions—not in the religion of Islam, but in peace with God and salvation through Jesus Christ. Click here to learn more on how you can join in on this prayer journey.

ramadan

Ramadan is the most holy month in the Islamic calendar. It’s a time for Muslims to refocus their devotion to Islam as they fast from all food and drink from sunrise until sunset.

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Certificates

Posted in Art/photography, CCEF, Muslims, tagged , , , , , , , , on April 16, 2012| Leave a Comment »

I’m not too into accomplishments, but it is nice to get things in the mail. I passed all three of my classes this semester and received my Level 1 certification in Biblical counseling, an A and a certification of completion in my Muslim class and I got an A in photography at CGCC. I am thankful to have learned some incredible material and skills this year that I can apply to life and thankful to God for providing these opportunities.

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Kingdom of Darkness

Posted in Muslims, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on February 20, 2012| Leave a Comment »

I had a pretty long conversation the other day with a friend of mine about spiritual warfare. She is big time into thinking demons are very real in our daily walk. Last week I studied about Folk Islam. It’s a catch-all phrase for Muslims who practice both orthodox Islam practices with animistic practices. Most Muslims believe that God very distant from them and that they need to rely on things like magic and rituals to harness supernatural powers because they themselves feel powerless. Just studying this spiritual realm of Islam has gotten me asking me my own questions of what I believe about the Spirit world.

Maybe we don’t always practice animistic ways as Christians to manipulate God, but do we truly always turn to God for everything? Is there really any difference in how we approach our probelms than those that practice rituals when a loved one is sick? Many of us choose to take our own actions instead of asking and trusting that God is Sovereign. As Christians, we need to understand that Spirits are for real and you see this throughout scripture (For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Ephesians 6:12). Jesus and the disciples really did drive demons out of people – they weren’t just stories. We need to be prepared daily for these forces of darkness that prey upon us with Christ’s supernatural authority that he gives us. It’s why he died on the cross for us. I have been better at not trying to look at others as an enemy, but more that Satan is using them to tempt me and cause brokenness in my relationships with them. I try to pray in the Spirit for all occasions and trials.

Evil Spirits in India

When I was India, I was walking through the red-light district and saw pictures of demons posted on these huts where prostitution took place overnight. I also saw shrines that housed cobras for worship. I felt a darkness over this place and I remember having to pray in that moment as I knew evil Spirits resided here. I also attended a worship service out in a remote village and witnessed people shaking and foaming at the mouth as we sang worship songs (My Pastor had a look of terror on his face – I don’t think seminary prepared him for this). Just seeing people oppressed by Spirits firsthand made this spiritual realm more real to me.

I think my comfortable lifestyle in the U.S. makes me overlook the spiritual battle going on in my own backyard. I tend to forget that there is a war going on here too. I truly believe people can be oppressed by demons when they are enveloped by their own sin. I believe Satan puts a clamp on us and blinds us to the truth. I can think of many times that I was in sin and don’t remember it. This just makes me remember to pray for those that are lost and to be prepared spiritually for the battle Satan is waging on us.

“Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.   Luke 10:17-18

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Engaging Muslims

Posted in Muslims, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 3, 2012| Leave a Comment »

For my assignment this week, I needed to spend some time in the Muslim community. The whole purpose of this assignment is to shed our prejudices and learn to love Muslims. I wasn’t ready yet to full on walk into a mosque, so I decided to hang around some middle eastern restaurants. My first stop was Haji-Baba in Tempe. I drive by it a lot and I had heard the food is really good. The part that I made a mistake is that I went at lunch time. It was so crowded that I couldn’t even get a word in with anyone. I spoke with the cashier and asked him how long the restaurant had been around. He said about 26 years and said he had been here about 5 years. He was young and there was a long line, so I ditched the conversation and let him work.

The next day I went to Cafe Istanbul. I had been here with a friend in the past and they are not as busy. I saw a couple of Muslims smoking a hookah on the patio and thought about joining them. But I wasn’t really down for smoking a hookah at that time. I ordered some food and chatted with the waitress. She was from Lebanon and mentioned she had been with the restaurant for about 20 years. I asked her if there was a community of Muslims nearby and she said a lot of them live close to the area. I then decided to disengage with the conversation after that just to observe my boundaries of chatting with a Muslim female. The food was good and I left.

I went to an Indian restaurant next to my place called the Bay Leaf cafe. India has a heavy Muslim population and I’d figured I give it a shot. The gentleman I talked to came to America because his wife got a job here. He has been here eight years and is from a city close to Chennai – the city I flew into when I went to India. We had a good talk, but once again he seemed a little busy with customers and I decided to let him be.

I was driving in Tempe and decided to pull over and pray about this assignment. I prayed that God would provide an opportunity that I would have a deeper conversation with a Muslim and that he would break down my fears of doing so. After I prayed, I looked up and saw the top of a mosque behind a building. Next to it was the Phoenicia cafe – a little middle eastern place with a marketplace. It was late and I decided to get some chai.

The gentleman that helped me was starting to clean and close shop. I told him I was expanding my interests and trying to learn about different cultures. He thought that was good and continued to listen to my questions. I think he got the clue that I was serious about wanting to know more about Muslims and he dropped his broom and sat with me. He said he loved being in America. He is from Morocco and he hated how the people in Spain and England treat Muslims. He said in America, we are nice to them and at least smile. I told him that I don’t like learning from media and television about his culture and that I wanted to learn from having relationships and conversations with them. He told me even though I’m a Christian and he is Islam, I am his brother. He mentioned that he would tell me all that I wanted to know about Islam and that he wouldn’t push it on me. He said it is the will of Allah that one becomes Muslim and that it is a choice. He shared his family life and how different his culture is from ours. He also mentioned all the tables are round there and that everyone shares the same cup and bread. Respect is always given to the father and then the mother who cooks the food. He then told me his faith comes from Allah and that he believes if you have good people around you, you will have a good life. He told me a story about how he needed $582 to pay all his bills last month. He prayed to Allah and he was offered some extra shifts to work that next weekend. He made exactly $582 that weekend and was able to pay all of his bills. We says he doesn’t worry anymore because Allah always provides if you believe. We had a wonderful time together drinking chai and talking about our different worldviews. Is name is Hakim and we are going to meet again next week.

This was a wonderful week and I am thankful God is breaking down my own fears and prejudices about Muslims. I had a lot of them after 9/11. There of course are some extreme groups out there (just like we have them here), but they really are a loving community of people. If you want to read about some of the food I ate, check my food blog entry at Food, Art and Culture.

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Five Pillars of Islam

Posted in Muslims, tagged , , , , , , , on February 1, 2012| Leave a Comment »

This picture is amazing to me. It’s a picture of the fifth pillar of Islam – the pilgrimage to Mecca (or Hajj). These Muslims have traveled far to the birthplace of Muhammad to worship Allah. In the middle is the Ka’aba – a holy shine that houses the Holy Black Stone. Tradition says that Adam built the shrine and that Abraham and Ishmael repaired it after the flood. There are many ceremonies and rituals that take place during this time.

I am learning that there are many parallels in both Christian disciplines and Islam. This course has really helped me with my perspective on Muslims and that Islam was birth mainly out of distortions of scripture and the absence of Christians reaching out to Muslims during that time. Here are some verses that show what the Bible says about each pillars.

1. Shahada (Confession) – Deut. 6:4 (There is only one God)

2. Salat (Prayer) – 1 Thess. 5:17 (We must pray continually)

3. Zalat (Giving) – 2 Cor. 8:7 (We must excel in the grace of giving)

4. Saum – (Fasting) – Matt. 6:16-18 (Fast only to our Father, not for boasting)

5. Hajj – (Pilgrimage) – Heb. 12:1, 1 Peter 2:11-12 (having honorable conduct free from fleshly lusts)

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Learning Islam

Posted in Mexico, Missions, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on March 30, 2008| Leave a Comment »

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds; Most Gracious, Most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgement. Thee do we worship, And Thine aid we seek, Show us the straight way, The way of those on whom Thou hast bestoweed Thy Grace, Those whose (portion) is not wrath, And who go not astray.

This is the Al-Fatihah. It is recited five times a day at salat (prayers). I opens the Qur’an. It is very similar to our own Lord’s prayer in the New Testament. I have also been able to study the different postures of prayer. If you haven’t figured it out, I have decided to step out of my comfort level and start learning more about the muslim culture. I want to love the people just as much as I love their food.

We had muslim night in my missionary class a couple of weeks back. They actually set up the room as if we were in an actual mosque. We had to take our shoes off and purify ourselves with water. Guys were separate from the girls. We practiced the postures of prayers. It opened my eyes to this culture that I had always feared. I really enjoyed that night.

Last night I was invited to a seminar in Phoenix called ’A Night in Pakistan’. It was an event sponsored by Frontiers, an organization that sends missionaries into muslim countries. The purpose of the gathering was to raise awareness and support of what was going on in these countries with several of us missionaries and church leaders. I had an amazing time.

I got there pretty early and walked around the bazaar. They had music, jewerly, linen, toys and all sorts of information on the muslim culture. It was a cool set-up. (I of course bought some more books). I spent most of my time meeting missionaries and drinking chai tea. I never knew chai meant ’tea’. All I know it blew Starbucks away.

I then had a gentleman in a turban walked up to me and asked me what country I claimed. I wasn’t sure. I told him my views of the church and how we don’t do enough to send people to unreached countries. He smiled and said that he felt God calling me to a muslim country. He then said a prayer over me in the mist of the crowd.

I then chatted with some local Pastors and leaders around the valley. I also had a great conversation with my friend Amaris, who is going to Finland for 5 months. She has been a person who’s faith I have always admired and someone I learned a lot from on how to have a servant’s heart. Then some people that recognized me from Cornerstone came up to me and said hi. I recruited them to go on the Mexico caravan trip I’m heading in a few weeks. I then won a door prize… a cool slingshot.

The rest of the evening consisted of a banquet with some speakers. I dove into the food. Lamb kabobs, chicken korma, potato curry, eggplant and basmati rice. Oh my gosh… I was stuffed. But most important, I really tried to listen in and learn what God is doing with these people. Frontiers is doing some awesome things. Unfortuantely, the church is not. Over 3000 unreached people groups within the muslim culture. And not enough mssionaries…

I’m not sure what God is calling me to do with my newfound love of the muslims. All I can do is study more. I met some missionaries at the seminar that go to my church that want to meet with me. I also had a gentlemen that goes to Cornerstone as well that came up to me and said hi. He was a muslim.We had an amazing discussion about his culture and what we felt Cornerstone needed to do to become more missional.

I love that God is opening up my eyes to mission and this culture. I love that I have such a heart to spread the gospel to those in need. I love that he has made me step out of my comfort zone. Missions is my heart and desire. God commands us to share the good news to other. I want to obey.

And just real quick about the Mexico trip…

I went on a recruiting spree this weekend and capped the trip off at about 20 people. God is amazing! More than half of these people have never been on a mission trip! I am excited and can’t wait to see what he does with this team of people. God is so good!

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New cultures

Posted in Missions, tagged , , , , , , on March 11, 2008| Leave a Comment »

2am… I’m sitting on my balcony pondering God’s will in my life….

Lately I have been studying a lot into unreached groups within the 10/40 window. I don’t know why I never had an interest before until recently. I’m guessing it was fear. Fear of the unknown. Especially with the muslim culture. My guess is that 9/11 casted a lot of judgement on that culture. But lately I have finding myself learning more about Islam. I got to experience some of their practices during muslim night at my missions class last week. I actually felt less distracted in my worship in some of their ways. I am going to a seminar on the Pakistan culture in a couple of weeks. I am looking forward to it.

I have always had a heart for the hispanic community. But I feel a great responsiblity in learning more about those cultures where the gospel isn’t being spread. 90% of missionaries go to regions where the gospel is prevalent and churches are already rooted. The muslim culture is being ignored. I’m hoping being exposed to the Buddhist culture in Cambodia will really be a step in my faith to push myself into learning more about the muslim culture. I feel I need to not let Satan not take over my confidence in spreading the good news to not only those within my own society. I need to step out of my comfort level.

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