Monthly Archives: September 2022

Tell me you love Jack Johnson! My wife and I went to see him a few weeks ago, and aside from the not-so-pleasant contact buzz, had an amazingly fun time. This line from his song, Don’t Look Now has stuck with me: “I know that I feel things. I feel like I know things. . . .” 

I wouldn’t presume to guess what all those words meant to Jack as he wrote them or now when he sings them. But I know they’re true of me: I feel some things intuitively: “This is true. That, on the other hand, is way sketchy!” And I think I know some stuff, “God intensely loves the Muslims he’s made and dreams of the roles they’ll play in his kingdom.” 

Of course, I don’t know most things and I wonder about a lot. For instance, I’m continually curious how you, and people in general, think and feel about Muslims. 

Like this: What would your initial thought or feeling be if you learned the new teacher for your child (grandchild, niece, nephew) was a hijab-wearing Muslim woman? 

There’s no shame or scolding here. We are who we are and God delights in us. But it’s worth taking a look. 

Would you take 30 seconds to answer one or two of these questions: 

1. People (maybe me) tend to feel this way about Muslims: (answer)
2. People (maybe me) think Muslims will/intend to. . . (answer)
3. People (maybe me) are angry about Muslims because. . . (answer)
4. People (maybe me) are worried about Muslims doing/becoming. . . (answer)
5. People (maybe me) have trouble with Muslims because. . . . (answer)

Thank you for whatever time you take to help me understand that broader mindset. I echo Paul’s prayer for his buds in Philipi, “May we have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. . . .” Indeed. 

During this September, I’m raising funds to keep Muslim Connect going and growing. This is the last week to make a contribution (find me under the “Staff” dropdown) and receive a complimentary copy of the new book by my friend Fouad Masri, Sharing Jesus with Muslims: A Step-by-Step Guide when it comes out on Oct. 11th. 

If donating is not in the budget right now, no worries. You can also help by forwarding this email to a couple of friends whom you suspect have thoughts (good or bad) about Muslims, asking them to sign up at shanebennett.com. Thanks a ton! 

Don’t you love it when you read a book that invites you to think about things you haven’t before? I do. I read just such a book over the last few days, “Open Borders, The Science and Ethics of Immigration.”

Gut check: What do you immediately start to feel and think when you consider the U.S. opening its borders, allowing pretty much whoever wants to move here to do so?

Maybe, “What about criminals and terrorists and people with communicable diseases?” 

Possibly, “The country would be over-run and the costs to educate, medicate and incarcerate would break us while we kiss our culture goodbye.”

Could be, “I bet it would mean a ton more Muslims moving here and if they spoke English, I could hire them for my business.”

Perhaps, “Would this give smart, diligent people the freedom to have a go in the good system into which I was lucky enough to be born.”

For me, “Oh, I know there will be unintended consequences. I just don’t know what they are! Even so, the upside seems staggering.”

To be clear: I’m not advocating for open borders. Yet!

To be all up in your grill: What impact does (or should, on the off chance those two are sometimes different!) the life and teaching of Jesus have on our thinking about open borders?

To be blunt: The current status quo, based on general revelation and Jesus, is immoral.

If you’re tempted to write off open borders as ridiculous, stupid, naively idealistic (it could be all), please give this idea a quick look: Don’t Restrict Immigration, Tax Immigrants.

Finally, what kind of borders do we expect in the kingdom of God to come and how does that future vision impact our current action?

During this September, I’m raising funds to keep Muslim Connect going and growing. If you’ve found value in Muslim Connect and make a contribution by the end of the month, you’ll receive a copy of the new book by my friend Fouad Masri, Sharing Jesus with Muslims: A Step-by-Step Guide when it comes out on Oct. 11th. 

If donating is not in the budget right now, no worries. You can also help by forwarding this email to a couple of friends, a small group list or your church (!) and asking them to sign up at shanebennett.com. Thanks a ton! 

I just finished a great little book by the 5 Love Languages guy, Gary Chapman, called Life-Changing Cross-Cultural Friendships. He co-authored it with his life long African American friend, Clarence Shuler.

I heartily recommend the book, but want to specifically share a paragraph that challenged me. Given that cross-cultural friendships are fraught with pitfalls, Shuler and Chapman encourage us to say early and often, “If I ever offend you by something I say or do, or something I fail to say or do, please tell me. I want our relationship to be open and honest. If I offend you, I want to understand it and apologize. Can we agree on this kind of openness?” I love that!

Flooding in Pakistan
Please join me in praying for the people of Pakistan who are reeling from the effects of an “unprecedented monsoon season.” NPR says, “Some 33 million Pakistanis have been affected by the flooding since it began in June. It has killed more than 1,100 people — including hundreds of children — and the death toll is expected to rise.”

Here’s a beautiful prayer video you might show at church or small group this week.

Click here to give for flood relief and here to build clean water capacity in Pakistan.

Uyghur Genocide
Thirteen minutes before her term expired, UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet released a report on China’s treatment of Uyghurs.

According to the BBC, “the UN’s report concluded that “’the extent of arbitrary and discriminatory detention of members of Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim groups … may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity.’”

The report recommends that China take immediately action to release “all individuals arbitrarily deprived of their liberty.”

May God use this report and the action taken in response to it for the deliverance of many Uyghurs.