Monthly Archives: September 2026

How’s your week going? Probably some ups and downs, a few wins and losses, maybe grace and judgement. We bought a car this week. Oddly enough that event involved all six of the above! 

I also was reminded of a phrase this week: This too shall pass. While not taken from the Bible, it does reflect a measure of biblical wisdom. Ever wonder where it came from? Spoiler alert! It was not a white, European man! Most likely it was first penned by a Muslim poet in the 12th century. (It was probably first said by Eve to one of her kiddos!)

According to this video, the sentence was given to a king to help him avoid both being crushed by defeats and made arrogant by victory. It reminded him that neither the good nor the bad would last forever. My former pastor and mentor says similarly about church ministry, “Don’t ride the highs. Don’t ride the lows.”

The poet’s name is Attar of Nashipur, a 12th century Persian Sufi Muslim from a region now in the country of Iran. 

The phrase made its way west (and probably east) and became popular in the US through a speech soon-to-be-president Abraham Lincoln made at the Wisconsin State Fair in 1859. Interestingly, Lincoln closed the speech expressing hope that the maxim would not prove true of the growing goodness he saw in America. 

Even so, this gift from a Persian poet has found a place in our popular culture. You may have had it told to you and may have told it to others. It possibly helped. 

May God use it today to remind us that Iranians are so much more than our country’s current foe. May he also use it to bring, in Lincoln’s words, “chastening in the hour of pride! [And] consoling in the depths of affliction!”

I’m enjoying a daily devotional app (though not everyday!) called Lectio365. This week the content is aligned with a Global Week of 24-7 Prayer. The organizers are inviting believers all over to seek God’s purposes around the promise of Philippians 2.9-11 “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

I’ve been moved by soaking in this promise Paul records, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, every tongue proclaim.” “Every knee?” “Every tongue?” When? Can it please be soon? And how are we involved, if at all, in the keeping of this promise? 

Some of us are particularly keen to see Muslim knees bow to Jesus. (God have mercy: Let’s make sure ours are first!) We long to hear Muslim voices glorify God by acknowledging the lordship of Christ. His name really is above all names! 

As you probably know, Muslims have a list of 99 names for God. Maybe you’ve heard this joke: “Why does the camel smile (see image above)? Because it knows the 100th name of God!” 

Spoiler alert: Muslims don’t think the 100th name is Jesus! (But maybe the camel does know!)

Even so, the list of God’s names in Islam captures many of the characteristics Christians also attribute to God. This means the list provides a good conversation starter. 

For example, the sales guy I’ve been interacting with this morning as I write Muslim Connect has a Kaaba emoji next to his name in his contact info! Alex is probably going to get asked about some of his favorite names of God and will probably hear some of mine! Al-Aleem knows!*

#19, The All-Knowing, The Omniscient. The One whose knowledge encompasses everything, past, present, and future.

Addendum: We should not let this day pass, the 25th anniversary of 9/11, without remembering in prayer those who lost loved ones or quality of life in those horrendous attacks and in the downstream conflicts that have spanned the globe. May God have mercy on those who suffer. 

When you think of what judgement followers of Jesus might face, which way do you lean: “Hey, the blood of Jesus washes me clean. Which way to my mansion?” Or more like me in a I Cor. 3.15 sort of way, “Dang, I kinda smell like smoke!” Either way, for Jesus followers, eternity is secured and very, very hopeful. (Pause a moment and breathe that in.)

For Muslims, the judgement of God might be a little more complicated. I recently read a brief section from an apparently reliable Hadith (as they go) that says Muslims will face five questions about their lives before proceeding further in the process.

As you read over these, consider two things, ask yourself: 1. Do I know any Muslims I could ask about these? They’re great conversation starters! 2. Should I maybe think about these right now? I know it would be good for me to.

From At-Tirmidhi: The son of Adam will not pass away from Allah until he is asked about five things: 

1. How he lived his life, 
   This kind of sums it up, doesn’t it? Jesus pointed this out in Matthew 25 long before Muhammad was kicking around Arabia.
2. How he utilized his youth, 
   This feels to me like, “So you think you did ok with your life, eh? How about when you were a kid? Huh, what then?
3. What means he earned his wealth with, 
   Wow, such a good question. Do you and I earn our money in an ethical and God-pleasing way? I’m a pastor, so a 90-minute church service once a week and a couple weddings a summer. I’m crushing it!!
4. How he spent his wealth,
   Assuming you’ve earned your money in an Allah-pleasing fashion, now consider how you spend it! Do you really need the grande latte? The top trim level with the heated steering wheel? That’s not fair. The older I get the more I think what you do with your money is between you and God. I’m just reminding us: Good idea to think about how we spend our stash.
5. What he did with his knowledge.
   Wow! So how about it? What do you do with your knowledge? Do you let it puff you up or maybe direct your love toward building pathways pleasing to God and beneficial to his kingdom?

I don’t think Christians will be quizzed like this on that Day, but I suspect giving thought to Muhammad’s big five will leave us smelling less smoky when it comes. 

If you’ve been considering donating some money to the recovery and relief effort in Nepal, but are unsure where to do so, I have two friends who lived there for several months and have a “like family” relationship with a Nepali mom involved in the effort. If you’d like to give through that channel, click here. My friends and I will be grateful.