an important moment – so far ignored by the msm
An important shift is taking place among Muslims in the wake of the Mumbai Massacre. You can read more here ...
Key quotes:
The shock of last week's violence has sparked worldwide outcry from the Muslim community, where many have disowned the terrorists and denounced the notion that their actions have anything to do with Islam.
This widespread Islamic movement to repudiate the root-claims of many terrorist organizations has fostered unity in India and attracted the attention of the press outside the U.S., although most American commentators appear oblivious to the fact that a significant shift in global Islam is afoot.
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please don’t forget the Congo!
It's terrible to think about a race for the most tragic place on earth, but Darfur in Sudan and Eastern Congo are surely among the front runners. Here's a sobering summary of the horror taking place there ... And here is a prayer we all can share:
Almighty God, your eye is on the sparrow who falls, and you care for every girl and woman being victimized by violent men in Eastern Congo. You care for every peace-loving child and adult who have no part in the violence there, but whose lives are dominated by it every day. God of justice, stop those who in a lust for money and power rape the land for coltan and gold and diamonds. And stop those who in a lust for domination and and aggression rape women and girls. And help us who live far from their horrors to know how to collaborate on behalf of our brothers and sisters, and may your kingdom of shalom replace the anarchy and fear that reign there now. Guide the leaders of nations to intervene appropriately so they can bring all appropriate means to bear on behalf of the people of Congo. We ask it in the name of the one who suffered for all. Amen.
Want to get involved? Check out Raise Hope here ...
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Churches in the Economic Crisis … Part 1
(This is the first of at least two reflections on the role local churches might play in the economic crisis.)
Nobody knows how bad it will be or how long it will last. Nobody knows if other problems will arise - terrorist attacks, wars, rumors of wars, natural disasters - that will intensify the crisis. But most of my friends who know more about economics than I do tell me that they think the current economic downturn is going to be bad, and long, and we need to prepare for a rough go.
Churches, of course, are already feeling the crunch. Giving is already becoming a problem for many churches, as it is for many nonprofits in general. But I think the economic crisis also provides a lot of opportunities for churches to serve their communities. Here are some ideas that have been arising in my mind ...
1. How about organizing neighborhood care networks? A family from your church could become the hub for creating a network where needy people their neighborhood can get help. What would it mean for people from your faith community to go door to door in their neighborhoods, not to proselytize, but to give out a flyer letting neighbors know that there's a church in the area offering food, counseling, support groups, etc?
2. How about inviting unemployed people to gather at your church at a certain time, and providing a facilitator to help them a) process their grief at losing their job, b) provide mutual support, c) imagine ways to get retrained or create new work opportunities, or d) join together in volunteer service projects to do good to others and avoid sitting at home watching game shows and soap operas every day?
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the president-elect …
Sojo.net recently included a piece I wrote on President-Elect Obama's "ethic of responsibility" ... here.
And my friend Bob Carlton co-wrote a book aimed at helping teenagers get to know Barack Obama ... learn more here.
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quiet for several days …
Over Thanksgiving, we McLarens will be in Mexico celebrating the wedding of my son Brett to his beautiful bride, Breana. (We've got a "B" thing going here.) It will be a small family wedding. So I'll be avoiding technology for a week or so, and I don't expect to post on the blog. Have a great Thanksgiving! I hope you'll make time for a quiet walk, to savor how blessed you are and express your gratitude to our Creator ... and I hope you'll have some great hours feasting with family and friends, enjoying "the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."
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