Islam: What the West needs to know

I watched a documentary a few nights ago, entitled: "Islam: What the West needs to know". (A link to the video is included in the title.)

This video is not intended to spread hate or ignorance. In fact, it is just the opposite. The video is brought by professors, writers, and ex-muslims, (one of whom is an ex-jihadist @ time code 33:20) the subject matter experts on the topic.

*EDIT*: It's important to point out that this is not a video that is "pro-Judeo-Christian". It mentions Christianity and Judaism only when those religions play vital parts in the story that the video tells. There is no hidden agenda. The documentary simply tries to shed more light on the religion of Islam. It strives to clear up confusion, to educate, and to inform. It uses the Qur'an, interviews and testimony of those who have practiced the religion, and various video clips taken from different Muslim TV stations.

If you have an hour and a half, I invite you to watch the video, and decide for yourself.

Autumn in the 804

School daze

So I've officially been a college student for 2 weeks. I had my second computer class of the semester today. The class is called "Basic Computer Concepts and Applications" BASIC is right. Today we defined the terms "Start button" and "double click". Things got crazy when the professor demonstrated how to resize a window. Jesus help me, it's gonna be a long 16 weeks...

Dead tech

I was watching the movie Boondock Saints with a friend the other day. I've seen the movie MANY times. It's pretty inappropriate for some audiences, but I love it.

I've noticed it before, but when I watched it this time... I couldn't ignore the payphones, pagers, and Discman's. It's surprising how far we've come in the last 11 years. What will it be like in another 11 years? I can't imagine watching a movie with my kids, and having them say: "Dad, what was up with that whole iPad thing?"

Life giving rain

As I was letting my dog out for his morning #1 yesterday, or was it day before (I don't know... it was 6:30 AM...) I was standing on my porch, watching the rain. From somewhere deep inside of me, I had a profound though (which is even more impressive given the time. I usually don't know my own name at 6:30 AM).

As a Christian, I've heard The Holy Spirit compared to "rain" more times than I could possibly count. In songs, in sermons, in The Bible itself. The comparison is absolutely everywhere. For some reason, on this morning (whatever morning it was), it made sense. Standing in the cool, sweet smelling air, listening to the drops splatter around me... I got it.

There are different kinds of rain events, just like there are different kinds of Holy Spirit encounters. Sometimes He comes as a quick sprinkling, just long enough to drop the temperature of your situation, and cool down your circumstance. Sometimes, as a summer thunder storm, loud and violent and dangerous, but beautiful and exciting. Other times, like the morning in question, He comes as a slow, steady, soaking shower. This type of rain doesn't just evaporate away when the sun comes up. It penetrates the earth, hard and dry as it may be. It gets deep down, and changes things from the root. It brings life. Dead and withered things become fresh, and new, and green once again. The dust gets washed away, and the soil is renewed, preparing the way for the things that will grow next.

I've always heard people say "he doesn't have enough sense to come in out of the rain". Looking at rain this way, why would you want too??

Angerment

So, after weeks of being locked out of my account... I finally got my Blogger access back today. Can anyone explain to me why a website owned by Google... won't let you use your Google e-mail as a primary method of notification for password reset info? So frustrating...

Backwards priorities

As I sit here this morning, I again contemplate something that I've thought about often in the last 2 weeks. That thought: my priorities are JACKED! Just one example:

I was thinking the other day about how connected the world is becoming. Smart phones, social networking sites... Google Wave... As a matter of fact, this very blog is being typed on my BlackBerry Curve. I have facebook and twitter not only on the internet, but applications on both my BlackBerry and iPod Touch. I can check/ update the status of/ load pictures too those sites from just about aywhere. As long as I have a phone signal or WiFi, I can tell the entire world about what I'm having for lunch, how bored I am at work, or share a humorous quote from famous person that we think is important or influential.

Then it hit me... I have a Bible on my desk. One in my car, one at home, on my BlackBerry, on my iPod, on the internet, and even an entire Bible study application on my MacBook. How often do I look at that?

I look at my phone for fb/ twitter updates several times a day. Sometimes up to 65 times (thanks @RNC. Jerks.), but I'll go days or even weeks without looking at any form of Bible media outside of church. Printed or electronic, multiple translations (41 to be exact. In 21 languages), get ignored. I need no signal from an outside source. If my internet crashes, I can read via my cell phone signal. If both go out, I can read the offline versions I downloaded to my iPod. Or... I can read the book itself. Atleast, I should...


Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry