Category Archives: Uncategorized

Nigeria
Armed bandits, likely a Boko Haram derivative, massacred 76 farmers in the rural northeast. Reports haven’t indicated if the victims are Muslims or Christian, but did say “the massacre set a new benchmark of brutality.”

Indonesia
Four Christians were killed, including one who was beheaded, probably by an Islamic State group in rural Sulawesi. The terrorists also burned homes and a church.

As someone who advocates for Christians to love and reach out to Muslims, I mourn these events, but also worry about the ammo they provide for those who oppose Muslims.  And I sense resentment, even hatred, growing in my heart toward the perpetrators and those who encourage them. If you share these feelings, what can we do?

At a minimum, I think we should ask, for ourselves and others, these three questions:

What are the nuances?
It’s tough for me to imagine a scenario in which it’s ok to cut off someone’s head. I believe it’s always (or nearly so) wrong to kill another person. That said, there’s always (or nearly so) nuance, back story and motivation I don’t totally understand. The real reasons, though not justified, are more sophisticated than, “Muslims are backward, evil and violent.”

Are Muslims inherently like this?
If someone argues convincingly that the Quran advocates such activity and therefore non-violent Muslims are bad Muslims, I might concede the point. But then I’ll go on to say, “How about we start with inviting those billion and a half ‘bad Muslims’ to follow Jesus?”

If these people are enemies of my sisters and brothers, how do I love them?
For starters, we pray for them. As we intercede for victims and families of terrorist attacks, let’s pray for Muslims who’ve bought the lies and those headed down that path. Then, as God directs and gives grace, we go to Muslims: Down the block, in a nearby city, via Facebook or by moving to the other side of the planet.

I’m thankful, nonetheless, as Americans celebrate Thanksgiving today. I’m grateful to God for food and Muslims and particularly for when the two have overlapped in my life.

• . . .for the Palestinian couple in Jordan who served my friends and me watermelon before the sun had risen.
• . . .for Mrs. Memon who warmed my heart, but burned my tongue with her spicy treats.
• . . .for the Turkish family in Konya who served fried eggs and warm baklava to AnnMarie and me.
• . . .for the Kurdish family who called our little band up from the street in Istanbul as we wandered during an airline layover to feed our bodies and souls.
• . . .for the Muslim missionaries-in-training in Malaysia who served a mountain of chicken and rice to my pastor, my friend, my dad and me.
• . . .for our dear neighbor lady in Bradford who welcomed us to the neighborhood with some of the kindest and tastiest curry of my life.
• . . .for the guys at the mosque in Frankfort who insisted I eat first after Ramadan even though I’d eaten and drank liberally all day.
• . . .for every Bengali entrepreneur who’s ever served my teams and me kebabs. You saved our tummies and our budgets.
• . . .for my dear Gambian friends in Catania who introduced me to domoda, the peanut, tomato and potato stew that sounds impossibly odd, but is certain to be a delicious staple of Heavenly cuisine.

Shukron, teshekur, grazie mille, thank you.

Congratulations to Leah from Oklahoma, the random winner of the $100 Amazon gift card celebrating the 200th edition of Muslim Connect. Leah’s been reading since nearly the beginning and she and her husband have eaten domoda, walked miles and prayed for God’s kingdom with me in Sicily. Thank you to the dozens who shared and wrote in response to the last issue. I appreciate you!

I’m trying to add this one to the canon: “Questions trump answers.” It’s a little dicey from a truth angle, plus the word “trump” can pull the mind away from the main point. We could go with “questions are better than answers,” but that immediately makes me sing “reindeers are better than people” in my head.

Some of this might be tied to personality and individual bent (Enneagram 9here!), but I’d prefer asking a Muslim four really good questions to sharing with him the four spiritual laws.

If you’re inclined that way as well, here’s a question you may want to try:

“Can you tell me about the God you believe in?” 

I read that question recently on a Facebook forum for people who connect with Muslims online. It resonates with me at a deep, deep level.

How would you respond if a non-belligerent atheist at work asked you that question? Or if your adult child did?

How do you suppose a Muslim friend might respond? I intend to find out! Of course, answers will vary considerably based on belief, depth of relationship and the winsome work of the Holy Spirit!

One thing is likely, the question will be reciprocated and you’ll have an opportunity to share about a God who the Bible reveals to be good beyond imagination, loving beyond reason, transcendent, yet closer than our breath.

This email marks the 200th edition of Muslim Connect. To celebrate my delirious happiness at reaching this unlikely milestone, I’m giving a $100 Amazon gift card to one person who reads this email. I’ll wait four days, then choose from the list of people Mailchimp says opened the email. You can double your chances in two ways: 1. Tell me you’ve read since the very first issue back in January of 2017. 2. Share this with a friend or two and let me know you have. 

If you’ve read Muslim Connect for a bit, you may be aware I’m not the most politically sophisticated egg in the tray! (I’m looking at you, Blake!)

That said, I’d like to offer this one glimmer of hope to look forward to with a Biden presidency:

President Biden “will set the annual global refugee admissions cap to 125,000, and seek to raise it over time commensurate with our responsibility, our values, and the unprecedented global need.”

This is not sweeping endorsement of Biden, nor a wholesale dismissal of Trump. It is a glimmer of hope for a hundred thousand people.

I think of the Syrian widow, sitting with her two little kids in a soon to be freezing tent on the fringes of a refugee camp in eastern Turkey. Maybe God is answering her prayers.

Increasing asylum intake often brings up these two questions. If you’re interested, you can dive in at the links.

1. Are refugees sufficiently vetted before the US gives them asylum? Check here for the official process detailed by the Department of Homeland Security. If you’re more visually oriented, this infographic tells a similar story.2. Won’t refugees place further stress on an already over-taxed public assistance system? Check the bullet points here for a quick overview of a White House requested study of refugee impact. Here’s the money quote, “The U.S. refugee and asylee population paid $63 billion more in taxes than they received in benefits to all levels of government from 2005 to 2014.”

It’s a glimmer of hope. For some, hope of safety and life. For us, hope for new friends, both for us and Jesus.

I think we fall into five basic types regarding our approach to connecting with Muslims. God meets us where we are and uses each of these types.

Fight me!
Aggressive, truth-oriented polemicists argue with Muslims, pointing out errors in the Quran and Islam. Jay Smith may be the best current example of this approach. Sign up for Crescent Project’s free online Hope Conference to hear him live next week.

Results: Big wins, but beatings and extensive backlash.

Cut to the Chase
I have a friend who told me, “I’ve made a decision that whenever I meet someone, within the first five minutes of interaction, I’m going to tell them about my relationship with Jesus.”

Results: Helps find “persons of peace,” can build a “project-over-people” mentality, may take you to #1 against your desires.

You’ve Got a Friend in Me
Some of us (like me) want to find and befriend every Muslim they can, assuming we’ll get to the Jesus stuff at some point down the road.

Results: You express God’s delight in every person, but you may never actually get to the Jesus stuff.

If It Falls in My Lap
If a Muslim quotes the Philippian Jailer and asks what they must do to be saved (Or otherwise, speaks up!), we’ll respond, but the onus is on the Muslim. Well, once we’ve gotten ourself in chains and God’s sent an earthquake!

Results: God drops someone in your lap! Otherwise some great, maybe life changing, conversations are missed.

Not Gonna Happen, My Friend
When this type sees a Muslim, they pray, but only as they walk away. The thought of engagement is too much, so they leave things in God’s hands.

Results: God’s hands are pretty able, so stuff happens. Sadly great faith opportunities are missed.

Please take eight seconds to click the type that looks most like you. Thank you.

Fight me!
Cut to the chase
You’ve Got a Friend in Me
If It Falls in My Lap
Not Gonna Happen, My Friend