Well, it happened again!

            After purchasing several children’s books, I had divided them up for distributing to each grandchild. The few that had not been assigned to a particular kid and bag remained in my vehicle. A week or so later while driving the girls around, the elder picked up Madeline in London, then another couple. After that she grabbed the one illustrating Away in a Manger. (In my defense, I have other grandchildren who are or will be allowed to know about Christmas. So purchasing it was acceptable.)

            As she read it, she came upon the music bars and asked if this were a song. I announced that it was, in fact, one of those Christmas tunes known as Carols. So I sang it to her and she loved it. We sang it several times. I hate to admit it was a bit off-key and not as melodious as it should have been for a first exposure to a treasured piece.

            I did reassure her it did not hold anything off-limits to her or contradictory to the Koran. Although “Christ the Lord” might seem extreme, it is clear that such a special gift from Allah should warrant strong praises and a higher name than for an ordinary child. I think it depends upon what your definition of lord is. I would guess that Muslim children would not assign the highest usage to Him.

            I wrestled with it later.  But a Koran study of Jesus, starting with what are the good things that book has to say of Him, if He is who those verses state, then surely it should be no crime to celebrate His birthday. At the very least, it should be okay to learn a couple of songs, or to read about the angels singing, the shepherds and wise men coming to pay honor, or to hear that there was no room at the inn.

            However, in fairness to both Scriptures, the differences would need to be discussed as well. Still I find that if the Koran records He was a gift from God, a Righteous one, full of the Spirit, and such similar statements, celebrating His birth by receiving a present seems harmless. And colored lights for decorations could hardly endanger their souls to celebrate the birth of one of your prophets.

            Therefore I have composed a list for your usage to clarify which ones are safe for your children to encounter. My criterion was if the verse called Him the Son of God, or Savior, or such then that would disagree with the Koran. For instance in God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, it says “God rest ye, merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay. Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day to save our souls from Satan’s power when we had gone astray. Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!” The second and fifth verses are safe, but the first, third, and fourth are not.

            The Koran already informs you we believe He died on the cross for our sins. Mohammed was very clear in denying anyone could take another’s punishment. That is why he so repeatedly stated that no one can intercede for another. I suppose it might be safe then to hear these songs because the Koran already discusses the theology.

            The same could be said about the carols that name Him as the Son of God. Your book already records “And they say that Jesus, the son of Mary is Allah,” and denies God has a son. It does say, though, “If Allah Most Gracious had a son, I would be the first to worship Him.” If your children are at all familiar with the Koran, we offer no additional information. (I offer this to all Muslims who might read this, not merely the ones in my family.)

            Here is the list of acceptable carols: Away in a Manger, Silent Night-1^st verse, We Three Kings-1^st verse, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear-also 1^st verse. The First Noel is safe as well, though it claims Him as King of Israel. That teaching merely refers to him as such because it is approximately equal to the meaning of Messiah or Christ. While a Jewish parent might take great offense to that teaching, the Koran refers to Jesus as such. (Herod was the actual king at that time, under Roman supervision of course. The gospels reveal the title of King of Israel was tacked onto the cross under Roman authority. But that was at a later time.)

            The ones in the second list are Joy to the World, Silent Night-2^nd verse, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, God rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, And “Mary, Did You Know?” You might decide these are no longer dangerous since you already have that information and can use them as examples of our beliefs. Either way, you shall be well informed.

            Hark the Herald Angels Sing is definitely off-limits. In the 1^st verse, it explains why the angels announce what Scripture says is “peace on earth, good will to men.” They sing, “Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and men are reconciled.” The 2^nd verse is much worse. “Offspring of a virgin’s womb, veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the Incarnate Deity. Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel.” (Emmanuel means God with us.)

            The third verse continues with your heresy (what you consider to be so.) “Light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.”

            This requires a few explanations. No, we do not claim He had wings, though He rose in the air at the ascension. It just rhymes and the author took poetic license. Laying aside His glory refers to his humility as being God, setting aside the worship and glory He had to become a man. Having a halo or aura as He walked around would have lessened His ability to be treated as a normal person.

            The "second birth" was part of Jesus’ teaching. He instructed one of the learned men who came to him secretly. Nicodemus was a leader in the Sanhedrin. Asked “what must I do to be saved,” Jesus said we must be born again. The elder pondered, could I enter again into my mother’s womb? It wasn’t possible, so what did this man mean?

After chastising him for being a spiritual leader and not knowing this, Jesus explained that we had to be born a second time with a spiritual birth. (Our natural man was too corrupt and was not capable of pleasing God. Only by having His Spirit change us could we be acceptable to the Most High.) The words to this hymn were written by Charles Wesley, and the music was by Felix Mendelssohn.

            On reconsideration, Joy to the World, by Isaac Watts, music by George F. Handel does not seem dangerous. However you might not appreciate Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel. “Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”

            The second verse asks Him to “free thine own from Satan’s tyranny, from depths of hell Thy people save and give them victory o’er the grave.” The fourth verse asks Him to “open wide our heavenly home, make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path that leads to Misery.” Sometimes verse numbers change as different hymnals omit some stanzas and include others.

            Likewise you may not approve of Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, though it seems gentle enough. “Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie, above thy deep and dreamless sleep  the silent star goes by. Yet in that dark street shineth the everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight." (The Gospel of John announces in its first chapter that besides being the Word of God, he is the light that gives life to men.)

            Several of our favorite hymns were music of Beethoven and Johann Sebastian Bach. These were intentionally written as sacred music by those devout men. The most thorough, but difficult to suffer through except by the most devout is Handel’s Messiah, in which prophecies from our Scripture are sung in operatic form. Highly treasured, unbelievers (in Jesus) can find it takes way too long to get through even one verse because of the repetition. I love it, but it is an entire symphony gloriously composed of multiple songs, including a section reserved for Easter (discussing the death of Jesus, His resurrection, and ascension to heaven.)

            Good Christian Men Rejoice and Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Angels We have heard on High) are other carols I haven’t evaluated yet. Oh hear the Bells on Christmas Day seems harmless. Though Carol of the Bells cannot be listened to well without some thought of Hogwarts by Harry Potter fans. There are many more hymns of lesser renown.

            Some hymnals include songs from a variety of ages: 200 AD, 1100, 14^th, 15^th, and 16^th centuries as well as the more common ones written since then. Also, their fame varies from denomination and country. Some are more exclusively English, or German, or French. We are not writing a book here, so I must cease. This should have covered the most common to give you preparation of what you might allow. Hopefully it will also decrease worry over Christian relatives interacting with your children, or what the kids might encounter if they walk through a mall at the wrong time.

 

What the Angels Said

A few years ago I wrote a letter to my son-in-law explaining a children's book that I had read to his daughter. Don't believe I ever gave it to him, but then I have regularly written notes to my children and various others expressing something, and then spared them the tedium of having to endure my lecture. The book was a small inaccurate one (from the position of my faith) that failed to include the complete Biblical view of who the baby Jesus was. It had seemed a safe presentation of what was acceptable for a Muslim child to know, though. (It had not declared Jesus to be the Son of God, etc.) She loved it. After having been left in my care for a few days, I had read it to her at Christmas. When her parents returned, she was full of questions and got into trouble asking about it. I thought an explanation to be in order, as I had followed the limitations of what she was allowed to know.


You asked if this children’s account of Christmas book was based on truth, if it was accurate. Mostly it is, even if one is only considering the gospels as historical sources. It tells the story of the birth of a famous person, not of the Son of God, removing most of the supernatural elements. It includes elements that are in the gospel accounts, but leaves out what to Christians would be significant information. Like the hadith, they contain the accounts of the apostles and early disciples, companions who were there and recorded what happened. The discrepancy is that the book does not report what the gospels say the angels really said. One part of what the angels really said was

Unto you is born in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord.
Since this was announced to shepherds in Israel, within their cultural context, they knew the savior was the expected Messiah. From the Psalms many of the details were already known. David was born in and lived in Bethlehem as a child, so that was known as the city of David. 

The Jews required every boy to be literate enough to read the Scriptures. In the Psalms a whole foundation is laid where the Messiah is called Lord, treated as God, not a mere man. And Isaiah (7:14) declared the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel. (Emmanuel meant god with us.)

Another part of Isaiah says for unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Prophecies may sometimes seem to be taken out of context. I can only explain that even at Herod’s time, the verses were already interpreted to be prophecies. These verses were read in their synagogues, not just in the temple. So simple folks with more limited learning, and based on more oral culture still had access to them, just as do shepherds in Arab lands who depend on songs and readings to the masses who might not have their own copies of the Koran, or the time to devote to reading as some more wealthy might.

A verse said He shall be called a Nazarene. Another stated Galilee, of the Gentiles …(those who) sit in darkness have seen a great light. The Jews’ land was inherited and you weren’t supposed to go off from where you were born except on a trip. Normally if you were from Bethlehem or Nazareth, you’d remain there to live. Fulfilling all of these Scriptures took some doing. It wasn’t something that would normally happen. They were in Nazareth, but there arose a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. This meant everyone within the Roman empire. Since Joseph was of the line of David, he had to go to Bethlehem.

The book, I think mentions they were warned by an angel to leave, which they did, fleeing to Egypt. It may not, but I told your child about it as it is part of the story because the Bible relates this. There is another verse in the Old Testament saying I called my son out of Egypt. I am telling you this in case she asks about the bad soldiers who came to hurt the babies.

You see, when the wise men came from the east (Iran or somewhere,) they were experts in astrology and reading the stars.) They stopped and asked King Herod where the new king could be expected to be born. The men had followed the star. The king feigned friendliness, but he didn’t want to be replaced. He told them to come back and tell him about it, but they didn’t.

The experts told them Bethlehem was the expected place based on the various scriptures. Herod sent soldiers later, to kill all the babies two and under in Bethlehem, just to make sure they covered all the possible boys. An angel sent the young family away in time. But there was another scripture to prophesy the sorrow of this massacre, something that neither Joseph nor Mary could have arranged in order to fulfill it.

In fact, of all the prophecies that could have been arranged to “coincidentally” fulfill these conditions was taking a trip to Bethlehem. Or leaving and going to Egypt, but the timing of when to leave could not have been known. Instead, persons of other faiths (wise men), the corrupt King Herod, a Roman emperor, as well as Roman soldiers were moved around on a cosmic chess board. Though the shepherds might have been expected to know where the Christ was to be born, they could not have expected to know where exactly to find Him or when. A rational mind might discount the testimonies of those who claimed angelic visitations, but the coordination of things outside their control lends credence to their stories.

Much of this story is recorded in the gospel of Luke ( Lk.1:26-2:38, but also Matthew 1:18-2:23.) I believe you have access to a Bible which has a concordance. It should list various verses related to Jesus and his birth, as well as what prophecies were fulfilled from the Old Testament. Or you can get one used that will have it, or find the information online.

 
Now there were in the same country (Israel) shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, do not be afraid, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all people. For there shall be born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

The Gospel of Matthew contains the story of the wise men and Herod, as well as what Joseph was told. The Gospel of Luke tells of the shepherds, the annunciation to Mary, as well as John the Baptist’s birth. Mark starts with John the Baptist and Jesus as men. The Gospel of John begins with Jesus as the Word of God, the creator of the world, focusing on his deity, infinity, and power. This is interesting as he was Jesus’ best friend, and you might expect him to talk about his buddy. (In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…) But that goes off on another study.

Of course, Joseph and Mary were both spoken to by angels. But the children’s book doesn’t go into those announcements, the explanation of the virgin birth, nor that He would be the Son of God, nor God-Emmanuel, or that He would save people from their sins. It merely presents the birth of a special baby whose arrival was announced by angels. In fact, lacking the data about the virgin birth, it is less dramatic than the Koran.

The purpose is merely to explain celebrating a baby’s birthday. She cannot get Christian dogma from this book, as the book omits it. If Jesus is one of your prophets why would you keep her from it? Ordinarily I would not have even purchased it since it presents a limited view of Him. But it does allow a Jesus about equal with your understanding of who He is.

　

This is for your understanding of what I said, what I left out, and what will give you a comprehensive study on the birth of Jesus. Since he is supposed to be one of your prophets, I see no harm in it. It should be as useful or more, as a study of Abu Bakr. More so because the Koran does not speak of Bakr as sinless, or conceived by a virgin, nor of His miracles and teachings.

Note to the reader:  One of the first premises of writing is to recycle. Since I had not used the work for the purpose as originally written, it seemed okay to use here, that is especially considering I was going to post the next item (above this one.)

Okay, I can't figure out how to write on the right side. Too many changes have affected what pushing the design feature used to bring up. Now, I know they want me to add color, pictures, cartoons, whatever. And it is not as if I do not have some of these. I even have some videos that might be enlightening. I have spent most of the last year composing several, including doing the drawings and the animation for them. But those are for another venue, and another name. I have tried to be at least somewhat faithful to the title of this blog, though I have fallen short several times. The last one for example only applies in as much as the style of your places of worship influence how you do so. And that is because of teachings that instruct you to avoid idol worship. That has led you away from pictures and accurate portrayals of something into the geometric complexities of which I wrote. The previous post seemed a little harsher than I intended so I want to explain further.

I honor the desire to avoid false worship along with the ability to create something of beauty within those limitations. And I also appreciate the effect that enormous vaulted ceilings, columns and vast expanses have on the psyche. Whether in churches or mosques, government buildings such as courthouses or parliaments, or even in homes, a high ceiling induces in one the feeling of the greatness of the place. Its significance is related by the magnificence of the elevation.

During my teenage years I had the good fortune to live in a home whose foyer had a 14 foot height. The adjoining formal living room reached to 16 feet, though the dining returned to the modest 8 foot of normal rooms. Most of the house was at this height, though the family room had a vaulted ceiling whose middle with the main beam was at least 16 feet. The porch also had four columns, but was not so elaborate to be called a portico. The architecture gave me the feeling of expanded possibilities, of greatness that was unlimited rather than a humdrum and ordinary life of restrictions regular edifices bequeathed.

Later my first house (that my husband and I owned) had a one sided vault that led one's eyes up from the doorway to the middle of the house whose high ceiling was presided over by a fan and a light. Somehow laying on the couch and looking up encouraged me through some very dark times. The skylight midway may have added to it, but I acknowledge that these type of buildings seem to have an undue physiological effect on us. Psychological too but nevertheless instinctively producing the appreciation of things greater than ourselves.

Anyway, I am just saying that when I visit the state legislature with its rotunda and impressive designs, when I view buildings downtown especially those built fifty to one hundred years ago, or more, and see churches, mosques, or whatnot built in impressive size and shape, I am not immune. I appreciate that they produce the same sensations for you, inducing humility, wonder, and awe. So I do not mock your buildings in general. I merely question the effectiveness of scrollwork to actually produce genuine worship.

But then worship must be defined. For I do not mean a humbling sense of appreciation for the unknown, the infinite, the acknowledgement of a higher being that is so immense he cannot be reached or known. If that is your definition, then yes your buildings accomplish this for you. At least they enable the appropriate feeling of anonymity and insignificance to be achieved.

My understanding of worship is entirely different. See, I have been trained by a variety of sources, some so astounding in variety and depth that they stun those unused to them. Besides the normal singing of hymns and worship music along with sermons meant to instruct us in godliness that might not be too strange an adjustment for those used to hearing imams preach, the experiences of my young adulthood expand greatly.

My husband organized concerts which ranged from hard rock to black gospel to country. The most intense in terms of worship were those of Andrae Crouch. The congregation was full of folks from churches from all around town, not merely one group. Singing and dancing by one's chair or in the aisles was a spontaneous reaction of many. How do I explain, the image of a couple of thousand folks of various races and dress all on their feet shouting to the Lord? White men and their mates, bunned women without makeup or jewelry whose hair reached to their knees if taken down interspered between hordes of black church people. Singing, they mixed gently worshipping, swaying to the music, or hushed in adoration as the tides of rejoicing rose to thankfulness, humility of knowing our unworthiness of his grace, and greatness.

My inhibitions gradually adjusted to the volume, the movement, and yes the strangeness of the others. I had not been raised around UPC-ers (white United Pentecostals) nor COGIC (Church of God in Christ-one of the black denominations.) In fact charismatics, a milder form of pentecostal Christians were already a stretch for what I was used to. Those I met at church and our other concerts that drew a less extreme croud.

These times were not limited to only the concerts, we attended a church wherein our worship was not shortened to three songs and a sermon. But for thirty to fortyfive minutes every week we sought the Lord's presence. Not only might we sing or dance, we might kneel in place or at the altar, lay on the floor in humble submission to His might and majesty. (These far outdo the whistling and clapping of hands Mohammed noted was characteristic of his opponents.)

Since then I have been in very dry, normal settings wherein that decorum would be considered out of place. Even the act of raising ones hands for a while was considered nearly scandalous. As I have mentioned previously, I did so at the back of the room so as not to disturb others. Now they have loosened up. But we are still at three songs and a sermon, though they are backed with more drums and guitar to be more like rock music.

Mostly I do not feel a heavy beat induces worship as well as even the old hymns played regularly. However, along with a melody, we do have words that lead us to appreciate the character of our God, the works He has accomplished, and the majesty of His grace to us. These lead us into communion with Him. I do not mean the bread and wine here, but communication with the divine, with my Father. It is a relationship, and thus the worship is relationally directed to one who does hear me, who responds to me, and answers me. It is not anonymous.

We can and do have times of feeling His presence when a hushed reverance is appropriate. We even have banners though we do not have dancing or parades led by those carrying the decorations. I do sometimes miss the ballet dancers whose interpretive movements to hymns conveyed how we should respond to His majesty. (These were consistent with the instructions held within the Psalms about how to worship.) And I miss the greater worship. But I have grown in being able to reach Him without those exterior elements.

Because of these experiences, my background leads me to conclude that an enormous ediface may be a good beginning in humbling ourselves to understanding the proper proportion of who we are. But it is not sufficient to bring us into the presence of the Almighty. Thus it is not worship, or if it is, it is very inadequate for what He deserves, or for what your heart requires.

Islamic Architecture

                I checked a couple of books out of the library. One was about gardens. It held pictures of the Alhambra in Spain amongst other places around the world. Next to estates in England, France, or wherever, lush hedges with fountains abounded, flowers and trees too. Some were regimented into extreme order, others were so wild that I wondered how workers could get in to prune, or even how someone could walk in it to savor the view.

                The other book was on Islamic architecture. It centered mostly on places within Iran, or former Persian or Babylonian empires and influence. Ruins, gates, walls, full mosques, madrassas, and mausoleums overflowed the pages. It was a marvelous coffee table book of deluxe strength paper and monumental size worthy of the subject.

                Of course, it did not contain Bedouin tents or clay kasbahs that serve as compounds for entire tribes or villages. The writer even acknowledged when something was borrowed from pre-Islamic sources, whether the prior Sassanian shapes, Roman, or Byzantine influence when former buildings were torn down and materials were re-used. Or the previous Christian use was overturned.

                Many of the buildings were breathtaking, but I am partial to the deep blue of the tiles, and the white or black of the marble, the variety of granites, as well as jelliq scrolling. Not too impressed with the Arabic lettering because not being able to read it, I felt the need to withhold approval of something I might object to. (It might state no one can intercede for another, or declare that those who insist on holding on to past prophets such as Jesus or Moses are going to hell if they do not accept Mohammed.) Having read the Koran, I know there are any number of verses of which I would not approve.

                But the thing that struck me most was all the geometric designs. Now I like them in general. I always enjoyed in art or math classes when people would have us inscribe a triangle within a circle, or a circle within a square, and then color it. They even used to tell us to doodle scribbling in this direction or that until we eventually closed up, returning to the origin. We would then color each segment slightly different and post them on the wall of the classroom, or kitchen refrigerator at home. Pinks and oranges, blues and reds, greens and purples, or whatever making a variety of shapes, some pointed, others curved. And I like to look at carpets scrolling from one image to another.

                Islamic architecture loves to scroll on. In fact, we are told it reveals complexities leading one to contemplate infinity. But I find when I follow the path way, it does not lead me closer to spiritual thought. Now I admit I prefer stained glass whose pictures center my brain on one thought at a time. The faithfulness of the shepherd to the sheep, the Savior letting the little children come to Him, pictures of the parables-stories Jesus told, or of famous accounts of holy men such as Daniel in the lion’s den or Moses with the Ten Commandments.

                Not that I have been surrounded by these. For the better part of my adult life, I have attended stark Protestant churches with only a cross to look at. Some only had folding chairs, or those wooden benches called pews that make kids squirm for their uncomfortable hardness. So it should be clear I am not of the iconographic branches that pray to saints, or could be accused of worshipping idols. Words alone from music or sermons drew us to worship. But I was exposed to modest use of stained glass in my childhood, and remember looking at the pictures when my mind wandered from the sermon.

                It struck me that following those lines does not lend itself to delving further into the unknown, being fully the equivalent of doodling. It gives you something to do when you are bored, disengaging you from your surroundings. Just as a person not listening to a sermon could count the number of people in a row, multiplying by the number of rows to figure out the attendance, or count the number of beams in the ceiling, cracks in the walls, numbers of windows, or whatever. They merely keep you busy until you can escape out the door. And if there is a temporary escape while there, it is to a nothingness of not thinking rather than to contemplation of the Almighty.

                Now I grant that many of the buildings are actually beautiful. I appreciate scalloped edges well enough, black and gold, or varied tiles. One example not in the book but remembered from on-line searches is the Tin Mall Mosque in Morocco. The repairs are probably finished by now. This was a historic place from which the Almohads rose up to overthrow the Almoravids, and sent more Moors into Spain to keep them under control for an additional few hundred years. Of course it wouldn’t have been in the book anyway since it was limited to Iran’s historic influence.

                But there are a few other comments I’d like to make. About the beautiful mosques, less is more. People have finite minds so giving them something more concrete, limited is good. And finally, get over your false humility. The buildings in the book did not have intentional flaws. They were amazing because they were majestic. However when you take something that was beautiful and needs repair, do it right. Don’t put some inadequate or ugly thing up to complete the enclosure and to show what is original and what is new, as the Tin Mall people did.

                Now some of the folks did appreciate this point and had restored their buildings based on old drawings of what they looked like. But I for one, am tired of buying flawed merchandise: rings with scratches in the stone or rugs with strings and knots in the wrong place just so you can claim, “We know we’ll never be perfect.” True, but your souvenirs don’t have to be broken to be worthwhile. You’d probably sell more too.

                As for following scrolling lines, after a few rows of it, I’ll likely say, “Whatever,” or “Yeah, I got it” just as I do not contemplate the number of times some item is repeated on wallpaper. I note the pattern and the overall effect. I appreciate the colors and move on-unless of course I am the one installing the paper. But I have done my share of papering, and am not likely to do so again in this lifetime. In fact, at this point, I am more likely to tear out old paper, and go for solid colored walls. However, I might do some tiling, in which some appreciation of varied colors, shapes, and sizes would be appropriate. But while learning from you what creativity can be made with that substance, it will be keeping in mind the concept of moderation as well as intricacy and beauty.

                It is not that I am incapable of contemplating infinity. When I was young, Calculus offered the opportunity to compare one infinite series (or number) to another to see which one was larger. Looking into space or studying maps of the universe is awe-inspiring. Contemplating time or the lack of it in eternity is equally mind numbing for one senses his inability to comprehend-literally to hold on to it. But see that is nothing compared to the majesty of the One who created it all. And since I know Him and call Him Father, the feeling of insignificance in a void flees and I am full of security, warmth, and love.

                “The steadfast love of the Lord is everlasting. It is new every morning. Great is His faithfulness.” So I do not have to worry about what I cannot comprehend. “He remembers how we are formed, He knows we are but dust….” I have only to trust to Him, and be at peace with my limited awareness, because He has everything under control. So you can keep your scrolled doodling. Give my small brain a reminder of the Shepherd who loves me, and I can savor spiritual thoughts of eternity with Him. My Intercessor, my Savior who suffered on the cross and died for me, whom I look forward to worshipping and serving at the heavenly feast, in the new heavens and new earth, as well as now.

                These lead me to consider not the ephemeral. Not vague concepts, for the object of my concentration is the character of, the mercy and majesty of the personal, individual Being who is the Almighty. This, in fact, keeps me on topic of why I sought spiritual enlightenment to start with. I leave the edifice with encouragement, and strength to continue my daily desire to serve Him, instead of having to feign spiritual stupor and the reality of zoning out from the rigmarole. I do note that even our pews and folding chairs have got to be more comfortable than prayer rugs or even lush carpeting where you sit, kneel, and stand. But you do have some awesome buildings with great arches and architectural details.

P.S.               I will admit one downside to our churches. While you must face the front with someone's feet and rear near your face, we stand close enough together that others can hear my off-tune singing, screeching, and whatnot. But we do get to sit for long periods of time, off the floor, and with our families and congregation all together. (Women with the men, and children included until it is time to dismiss them to their classes.) I also appreciate the grandeur of some of the great cathedrals, as well as churches of a variety of shapes and sizes even if from different denominations. But of course, the import of any house of worship is the quality of the contact with the Almighty, not the artwork, size or cost of the building.

Where can I go?

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?  The Psalmist says in Ps 139:7. On the day that my daughter takes herself and her children to the other side of the globe, I am reminded of this.

Not only has He been comforting me, reassuring me He will be with her, watch over her, take care of her, when I read this, I thought of a period of time in my life. The bottom had seemingly fallen out of my life, my plans set aside, for me to have to accept continuing in a bad situation. Not that the cause was bad, it was the timing. And the fact that I would not have the freedom I sought.

I was pregnant with a child I wanted-later. I had to drop out from college yet again. Well, I chose to as I could not foresee being able to continue in the situation and be able to do it justice. Babies take time, and doing marketing projects and studying is not that easy with one around. Especially since I already had two kids to take care of. I thought I would be able to provide for them better with the skills and training I expected. However I had to learn to trust the Lord, not myself. If things had been going well, it wouldn't have been more than a minor adjustment. But they had not been for several years, and I had just been treading water to keep from drowing then. This was a major tsunami at least for my plans.
I had some money in savings that had not been spent, and I needed a break to process what was happening. So I headed to Europe, to see England and France, dragging my eldest with me. Things went swimmingly most of the time, but at the end, all hell broke loose. Don't remember if I'd written about it on this blog, but it was one of the memorable weekends of my life. Anyway, I was trying to have fun, enjoy some freedom before I got further tied down for several more years.

For any who do not know, having a baby is so sweet. They are wonderful and you grow to love them more each day. But the nighttime breaks in one's sleep, the crying that cannot be stopped (of the infant's and sometimes the mother's), the unending diapers, and being throw up on wears you down. A mother cannot even get up and go to the bathroom for nearly two years without them following her into the loo. As they are potty trained and learn to eat normal food, one gradually regains her life, and a sense of freedom ensues. So when you have taken two out of those stages, and then contemplate going through it with another, a logical mind will panic. It is not lack of love of concern for that baby. It is merely self-preservation because you know what is coming.   Just saying, don't judge.

So then, there we are at Notre Dame. As typical tourists, we enter, walk around, light a couple of candles-a new experience for me because Protestant churches don't have sets of candles for people to do so. We go outside, after listening to part of a service, to show respect that this is indeed still a place of prayer and ministry. I contemplate the number of folks who have brought their prayers to this building over the centuries. Did they trudge, or ride a cart? How were they dressed? What might their problems have been?
At this point I have not rejected God. Just trying not to talk to Him too much because He could have allowed me to finish my classes and get a degree. It was not unreasonable to want to provide for the two I had before I faced another to provide for unequipped. And I had used birth control, so it was not irresponsibility that had gotten me there.
And, well, I would not have minded replacing my husband with someone less unpredictable. But I was stuck with him because even I am not foolish enough to try to raise children without two parents. I know my limitations, and that was not something I could handle. So for the record, I was more upset about keeping my husband than about having a new baby, though the timing of that also was difficult.

No no one was offering to replace him, though at school there are always opportunities of guys willing to play around, that is whole 'nother level. They are willing to break up marriages that are already having problems, but that is not to state they are willing to be responsible with the consequences. And I was fortunate enough to realize the difference.
Anyway, back at Notre Dame, here comes a procession of saints singing "Majesty, worship his majesty." One of my favorite songs at the time that I had sung for several years at the church we'd attended. So I sung in English as they did in French, and I cried. Because I remembered that verse of Psalm 139:7, and the truth. There is no where you can go to get away, to start over, to forget about problems that He cannot be also.
You may find healing from old trials. There may be new. We had the year in Spokane, it was a year of healing away. I do not judge your going or your reasons. Much of it is sound. Just know you are not alone.

If I ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. Ps. 139:8-10.
(Yes, she is taking the wings of the morning wind as she flies across the ocean. Don't know why David would have said that before airplanes were invented, but there you go, the Bible is always appropriate.)
And btw, He got me through the next few years. That baby held us together when the family would have dissolved apart from him. The Lord continued to be faithful, and He showed me His salvation (not merely forgiveness but rescues.) And you are all grown and life begins again. For you to face, now. No, He does not always give us what we want, what we beg for.

We wonder if He hears our cries or sees our tears. But He does. He gives us what we need. And you are still in His hands whether you know it or not because He is faithful even when we are not. And when we cannot understand. That is how we learn faith, to trust in Him. He has had to wring us through trials to teach the lessons, and then we can calmly say, oh He will work things out. But we didn't learn this gently, no matter how easily it comes out of our mouths now.

Update- That was written in June. At least the problem was faced then. She has since returned and is rebuilding her life here. We struggled through praying for a couple of months, but she was back in time for school to begin. And I have been able to visit with her more as well as with her daughters.

Over My Shoulder

I cannot believe that Office has decided they must know my password, and keep track of what my blog is before it will allow me to post from Word. I wrote many of my posts on my computer first and uploaded it. Big brother has indeed come. These type of things is what makes me nervous when they say they have a new thing that must redo my version of word, or whatever program they want to insert new material into. Yes, it may merely be a protection against viruses, but then again we must ask who sends viruses and why?
If I have such paranoia in America where we have much freedom, I am not sure I could live in places where someone looking over your shoulder is a given. You certainly have to learn to have greater control of what you say or write, or greater courage to speak anyway.

Why I haven't been posting

     For a couple of years I have been writing a novel about the period in which Mohammed lived. Without bringing in the characters of the Prophet, Aisha, Omar, Abu Bakr, or any of the known personages of that time period, I found the people revealed within the Koran, or their types. The men who heckle and harass those who repeat the revelations are combined with an assortment of those who represent the opponents spoken of by the Allah's Apostle. The work required for that was combined with a nonfiction work of apologetics, called the Questions of the Koran. Hopefully that allowed the conversations to be less contorted, and have my objections documented at the appropriate time. But the characters do have detailed interactions about the issues that were tearing families, not to mention the society apart. Trying to be fair, I present Muslim and Christian points of view, along with Jewish beliefs. Still it is written from a Christian perspective.
      The questions are the problems that the Kuffar pose to the Messenger, and that he addresses. Since that is not large enough to make a book of itself, I've included the types of errors found that are not consistent with the characters in the Biblical stories. Terms and expressions copied from the Bible is another section, with the Gospel Hidden Within the Koran as the last.
     As I worked on editing these, a situation occurred to force me to deal with these issues for children. My grandchildren who are being raised as Muslims started it. One had begged me not to burn in hell. I had assured her I would not, and joked about it to lessen her concern. It did not help. Another told me I served Shaitan.
     Rather than throw my knowledge at a three and five year old, overwhelming them, I went home to seek the Lord. How should I explain theology to them? Clearly they were ready for some conversation, but it should be on a level they would understand. Having walked around many sections of the Muslim school and daycare they attend, I was aware that many groups of children were being indoctrinated.
    A few weeks later I got a glimpse of how to do so. In a little over a month, I wrote four children's books, and have added a couple more since then. But I have not read them to my grandkids yet. I am hesitant to put them at risk, whether they believe me or not. My artwork is seriously limited and picture books require decent illustrations. I have worked on paper and on computer. None are satisfactory, but I do have some ideas recorded. My favorite book uses the person of George Washington to make a point. (Of course these are only files, but someday, somehow ....)
     Most of these were things that were not included in my blogs. However, I have returned to them to gather bits that need repeating.  I wrote a couple of pamplets for evangelistic use. Lately I have been assembling Psalms that I had meditated on, memorized and written about. Many of my writings were recorded first on Word and then uploaded. In fact most of my early ones were,  having been written on paper first. However, they were refined as I posted these thoughts.
     So, you should know I have not given up the fight. It is just going in another direction. And I still wrestle with how to address it. You see, insulting someone is not the best way to get their attention or hearing. But neither is lying to them about what you have to say. I consider speaking honestly a compliment to the person I hope to address. I hope you do too.