I was born in a Sunni Muslim home in Bangladesh, where I learned the meaning of stern discipline from my father, a major general in the military with responsibilities in the intelligence service. We lived on different army bases in elaborate quarters reserved for officers and their families. Servants catered to our every need. The business and political elite of Bangladesh and Pakistan frequented social events in our home.
I grew up attending an Islamic madrasa (religious school), where we studied the Qur’an and learned classical Arabic from an imam. My father could trace his lineage back to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (the name derives from Hashem, grandson of the prophet Muhammad’s great-grandfather). His heritage qualified me as a direct descendant of Islam’s founder.
Matthew 16:5â12
We hear a great deal about the cancel culture and how it is impacting todayâs society; peopleâs rights are being violated, people who do not agree a certain way are being forced to shut down or to be able to present their beliefs to be assimilated into a belief system that is contrary to their own, and if somebody does not agree with you; your cancel. This seems extreme, but it is happening too often and thereâs a great number of voices that are being silenced because of this. And as I began to ponder upon this, I began to think about what Jesusâ take would be on this. What if Jesus used his power and influence to cancel things out from the world today, what would some of those things be?
We awoke on Friday to another shooting. This time in our state. This is not the first shooting we have awoken to in 2021, far from it. It just means it is harder to ignore. They may be able to piece together what and the why. We as a society are recognizing many of the reasons that seem to be repeating themselves in these shootings. We have to wake up to the fact that we have a problem of lack of compassion and love in this world for one another.
What do compassion and love look like in our world? I look to Jesus for examples.
Sunday Burquest dead: Former Survivor star passes away from cancer battle
Sunday Burquest, star of the 33rd season of the TV show Survivor, has passed away at the age of 50 after her second battle with cancer, her daughter announced on Sunday
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Former Survivor star Sunday Burquest has passed away at the age of 50 after a battle with cancer.
04-18-2021
Image Source: Unsplash/Yannick Pulver
A few years ago, I watched a televised debate between a prominent atheist and a well-known Christian leader. As they talked, I became increasingly alarmed as the Christian leader compromised the claims of Jesus Christ, one by one. He seemed to be trying to win the approval of the atheist and the studio audience by watering down the Gospel. It was embarrassing. The further this Christian leader retreated from a bold assertion of God’s truth, the more the audience booed and heckled him.
We call the Gospel of Jesus Christ “the good news.” But today’s post-Christian world does not view the Gospel as good news. Our message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is not popular in today’s world. Unfortunately, some Christians try to make Jesus more popular by compromising the truth. You cannot convert the world with a weak and compromised Gospel.