Please Call!

Hey, if you are planning to come tonight, please call me, so I can tell the trainer how many books we need!

Also, we need a VCR. Can anybody make that happen?

Thanks!

"I love you" was written on the blackboard.

Last night, Bob and I watched a Kurdish movie called Blackboards. The movie itself was simple enough, you can read about it here if you'd like. But that's not why I'm writing. I mentioned to Brandy last night that during our time of praying and fasting last week, I felt like God was showing me that I am not praying enough for these three things: 1) Bob and I, 2) our crew and 3) our people and Iraq. Last night during the movie, at the very end, there was a scene where the people were coming out of the mountains, from Iran into Iraq (returning home after being driven out because of Saddam's chemical attacks), and I was again reminded of how I KNOW that these are my people, and how last week's confirmation must so be true. I've shared this before, but here's part of the vision God showed me back that scene in the movie last night, I sobbed just a little, then quickly wiped the tears away, just knowing that this thing is for real.

*sigh* How beautiful that God lets us be a part of this with him.

And I felt like God spoke to me and said, "THESE are my people, and someday they will be your people, too."

What I saw next was thousands of dark skinned Muslims, a "people" sort of, but they were a country, too, because some of them carried a flag (only I could tell that they WEREN’T a country somehow…it didn’t make complete sense then)....not all necessarily dressed in the traditional Muslim garb, at the base of a green/grey mountain, tired and ragged from being sent their separate ways, and they were starting to come back together from all different directions. At the top of the mountain was Jesus, dressed in a brilliant white robe and gold sash, and as he came down the mountain towards them, he extended him arms towards them and when he did, he drew them closer and closer together. The closer he came down the mountain, the tighter they came together as a people. Then, he said, "You've heard it said, "When my mother and father and forsake me, then the Lord will take me up." No longer will you be forsaken. I will be your Father and you will never again be alone."

Volunteering?

It's official. ANyone interested in helping with the Family Partner Program through CRIS (the one we discussed at the last HomeGroup) should meet at my house this Thursday at 6:15 pm.

A representative from Comunity Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS) will be here from 6:30 to 8:30 to train us all on how to help immigrants in our area. Here's what's involved again:

Basically a Family Partner Team is composed of 2 or 3 volunteers who work closely with a newly arrived refugee family. The volunteers meet at least once a week with the family for the first month. You would help with transportation, tutor in English, help them navigate our complex bus system, teach them about "junk" mail, take them to apply for library cards etc. The commitment is approximately 6 months and training is given to potential volunteers as is on going support

Additionally, it're really awesome that they are willing to come to us to train us. I can't think of another organization that would be willing to do that. To me it proves that this is a group willing to do whatever it takes to serve the community.

It's pretty sweet.

Buried

I didn't want the following post to go unnoticed, buried in all the Ramadan posts, so here it is again:

I'm enjoying the James discussion (or at least, I enjoyed the first week of discussion, and the recap of what we missed last week). I wondered, Craig, if you might be able to give us a heads up before each home group as to what chunk of scripture we're going to be looking at so we can look at it before home group? It might help those who are like me and like to have some time beforehand to let the scripture roll around in our hearts and minds and lives... (Not the questions or anything like that - just the address of the scriptures). What do you all think?

Sounds like a god idea to me, too.

The End of Ramadan: Eid ul-Fitr

Eid ul-Fitr is an Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. In the Philippines, the day is a national holiday in recognition of the importance of the event to our Muslim citizens. Fitr means "to break" and symbo-lizes the breaking of the fasting period and of all sinful habits.

On the day of the celebration, a typical Muslim family gets up very early and attends special prayers in mosques and in large open areas, stadiums, or arenas. The prayer is generally short, and is followed by a khutba. The festivities start after the prayer with visits to the homes of friends and relatives and thanking the Creator for all blessings. The first Eid was celebrated in 624 CE by the Prophet Muhammad with his companions and relatives after the victory of the Battle of Badr.

After a full month of Ramadan, a religious tradition of surrender and obedience to Allah where adult Muslims observe the difficult fasting from dawn-to-dusk fast, Eid ul-Fitr is indeed an important and joyful event with great religious significance. Muslims dress in holiday attire. After attending the special congregational prayer in the morning, worshippers greet and embrace each other in the spirit of peace, love, and brotherhood.

Eid ul-Fitr is a day of forgiveness, moral victory and peace, of congregation, fellowship, brotherhood, and unity. Muslims are not only celebrating the end of fasting, but are also thanking God for the help and strength that He gave them throughout the previous month to help them practice self-control.

Eid ul-Fitr is a time to come together as a community and to renew friendship and family ties. It is a time for peace as all Muslims in the world to devote the day to prayers for peace and wellbeing. We join our Muslim brethren in these prayers. May the peace of the One God be felt throughout the land.

Article "borrowed" from Tempo, the Philippines' fastest growing newspaper(!).

Prayer for Day 7

Today is the 30th and final day of Ramadan. The following is from the Mafatih Al Jinan, a Shia prayer almanac.

O God, on this day,
make my fasts worthy of appreciation and acceptance,
according to what pleases You, and pleases the Messenger,
the branches being strengthened by the roots,
for the sake of our leader, Muhammad, and his purified family.
Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

Prayer for Day 6 (A Little Late)

Today is the 29th day of Ramadan. The following is from the Mafatih Al Jinan, a Shia prayer almanac.

O God, on this day,
cover me with Your mercy,
grant me in it success and protection,
purify my heart from the darkness of false accusations,
O the Merciful to His believing servants.

Verses for Home Group

I'm enjoying the James discussion (or at least, I enjoyed the first week of discussion, and the recap of what we missed last week). I wondered, Craig, if you might be able to give us a heads up before each home group as to what chunk of scripture we're going to be looking at so we can look at it before home group? It might help those who are like me and like to have some time beforehand to let the scripture roll around in our hearts and minds and lives... (Not the questions or anything like that - just the address of the scriptures). What do you all think?

Prayer for Day 5

Today is the 28th day of Ramadan. The following is from the Mafatih Al Jinan, a Shia prayer almanac.

O God, on this day,
grant me a share in its nawafil (recommended prayers),
honor me by attending to my problems,
make closer the means to approach You, from all the means,
O One who is not preoccupied by the requests of the beseechers.

Prayer for Day 4

Today is the 27th day of Ramadan. The following is from the Mafatih Al Jinan, a Shia prayer almanac.

O Allah, on this day,
bestow on me the blessings of Laylatul Qadr,
change my affairs from being difficult to being easy,
accept my apologies,
and decrease for me my sins and burdens,
O the Compassionate with His righteous servants.

The Laylatul Qadr is the "Night of Power." The night when the Qur'an was revealed.

Prayer for Day 3

Today is the 26th day of Ramadan. The following is from the Mafatih Al Jinan, a Shia prayer almanac.

O God, on this day,
make my efforts worthy of appreciation,
and my sins forgiven, my deeds accepted,
my flaws concealed,
O the best of those who hear.

Prayer for Day 2

Today is the 25th day of Ramadan. The following is from the Mafatih Al Jinan, a Shia prayer almanac.

O God, on this day, make me among those who love Your friends, and hate Your enemies, following the way of Your last Prophet, O the Guardian of the hearts of the Prophets.

Prayer for the 1st Day

Today is the 24th day of Ramadan. The following is from the Mafatih Al Jinan, a Shia prayer almanac. Enjoy

O God I beseech you to make me do that which pleases you in this month. I take refuge with you from that for which you may treat me with contempt. I beseech you to arrange my life in such a manner that I obey you and never break or tamper with your laws, O He who liberally gives abundantly to the beseechers.

Here are some more interesting excerpts on the month of Ramadan:

• O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may ward off evil
• And men who fast and women who fast...Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward
• In this month you are guests of Allah, enjoying His hospitality, you are from among His favorites, your breathing is "Praise Allah," your sleep is His worship, your prayers receive His approval, your invocations are sanctioned.
• He who does not receive mercy and forgiveness in this month is really an ill-fated unfortunate, condemned to everlasting unhappiness and deprivation.
  

Cold Outside! Warm In Here!

This Friday, 6:30PM at our apartment, let's all get together! And, we'll keep it sort of simple... DON'T EAT before you come. We're having pizza (so bring a few bucks). Oh, and check out this recipe from Bread and Better, the restaurant downtown! Cinnamon Rolls! YUM! I figure with all of us here, we can't screw them up too much, eh!? They'll be a great treat at some point during the evening...And I even have the proper baking pan for these!

Blankets

At last homegroup, we talked about collecting and giving out blankets this winter. What if we also made them?

I found this opportunity at the Community Refugee and Immigrant Services (CRIS) Website:

Warm the head, hands and heart of a new
refugee with the gift of a fleece blanket! Use
your creativity and craftiness to make a
blanket that will provide a lot of comfort
during the cold winter months in Ohio

Rich Food

I saw a video tonight on fasting, and wanted to share it with the crew...BUT, I can't post it directly here. You have to go directly to the website, highwayvideo.com, click on visual illustrations, volume 18, and then the video Fasting. hahah...You know, for when you're just kicking around with nothing to do. Here's what that site will look like when you get there.


And then also, here's a site about fasting that gives some biblical references for when, how, and why we fast.

Global Prayer Digest

Are you looking for a way to pray for various people groups daily, but aren't sure who or where to start? Check out the Global Prayer Digest. I remember this from back in the day, but just stumbled back on it today. It will give you a short description on their site, but then also link you to the Joshua Project site, where there is a lot more technical information about that people group, which could give you a lot more to go on if you're really praying for those people. It's not just for Muslims, either (thought right this moment, it does happen to be in that cycle). :-)

Ramadan

Here are some links to learn about Ramadan:

Ramadan on the Net
Submission.org - An Islamic site with lots of info on Islam and Ramadan
FactMonster


I'll keep my eyes open for more, but, if you know of a good resource, please post it!

Imagine!

I went to one of the meetings at the church to learn about the Imagine! campaign this evening.

I was pleasantly surprised. To be honest I was a bit cynical going in. I mean, why would the church build a chapel to house foreign language services when we don't have any foreign language services going now?

Turns out that the chapel is three years away and that Tom is beginning to build relationships within the Spanish-speaking community.

Does anyone else have anything to say on the topic? Any worries, fears, criticisms, etc?