Just To Hear You

My wife had a great idea. Our son is serving our country in Iraq. Over the past 10 or 11 months he has called and we weren't there. He left us a message. My wife has kept those messages on our answer machine. So anytime we want to hear his voice, we just hit play. It is good to hear him speak. It is a reminder that he is not here and that he is away from us - temporarily.

When reflecting on the answer machine, I thought about hearing the voice of God. God doesn't use answering machines, but he has left us a message. All we have to do is hit the "play" button and his word comes alive. It is a reminder that He is still there, even if not in plain sight. It is a reminder that he is not here right now, but he is coming soon. It is a reminder that his absence is temporary.

Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. We long for your presence. We long to hear your voice for eternity.

Sid

An Eye For An Eye

Speaking Sunday at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, 20 miles south of Rome, Pope Benedict said he was "deeply sorry" for the reaction he caused Tuesday when he quoted Eastern Roman Emperor Manuel II Paleologus's comments in 1391:
"Show me what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

The reaction to the pope’s comments has stirred a world-wide reaction among Islamics. To prove the pope was wrong about his comments, violence erupted during the weekend. An Italian nun and her bodyguard were shot to death Sunday at a hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia. Seven churches in the West Bank and Gaza were attacked Saturday and Sunday in response to the pope's comments. The comments go on and on. I guess Manuel was wrong – Islam is not violent. I do understand that their could be a radical element to this faith, but I also understand that when one is accused of being violent and they say they are not, and then use violence, that’s hypocritical.

Not to let us off the hook, we too can be hypocritical. We have, in many cases, become materialistic, self-reliant and apathetic in our Christian walk. I don’t agree with Islam, but have I totally given myself to Jesus?

Sid