9-12-12

Dear Family of faith, I write this midweek on a day when news comes that our U.S. Ambassador to Libya and three other embassy personnel have been killed by a militant attack in Benghazi, supposedly in response to a video produced by extremists in our own country slamming Islam's prophet Mohammed. It is a sad reminder of how fundamentalists in any religion can inflame hatred against those who are different and of the painful results of such animosity. Unfortunately some politicians have tried to make the issue political in a time of national mourning while others are calling us to take a good look at our own tolerance or lack of it for those who are different. On our way back from Minnesota this past month, Jill and I stopped in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. There in the beautiful little town of Eureka Springs I purchased my only souvenir from the area-nothing created by the locals, but a bright, rainbow-colored plaque with the word "IMAGINE" spelled out in a mosaic. Of course I thought of John Lennon's song, and on a day like today, I think even more about his lyrics: "Imagine there's no countries, It isn't hard to do, Nothing to kill or die for, And no religion too, Imagine all the people living life in peace." When I first heard that song, I took offense to the thought of "no religion," but the older I get, the more I get it. Our challenge in the world is to make religion something positive, something of value-not something to be wished away because it causes so much death and destruction in the world. How do we do that? By being different from those who give religion a bad name! Jesus said, "If you hate those who hate you, how are you any different from anyone else?" Even faced with this most recent violent attack against our nation and our principles of freedom, we cannot become vengeful. If we do, we are no different than those who have perpetrated the crimes. We must raise our threshold of forgiveness if we would be followers of Jesus' way. Jesus did not despise even his own murderers, but forgave them. If that seems radical, you've got it right! So why not start with those who have offended you personally? Can you forgive those who have hurt you, run out on your, or hurt your family members? Can you pray for those who despise you, be kind to those who gossip about you, help those who take advantage of you? It's a big order, I know. That's why we need God's help to do it. But that's what makes us different from the world. Hold your children tight. Call your parents often. Be generous to strangers. Love your friends. And keep being the welcoming, kind and beautiful people that you are! With affection, Pastor Carlan