DIVINEY FAMILY: August 2011

a few years ago you all read a post about my new "heart for" Darfour. It was amazing to me that somehow in my youth I had missed this genocide almost completely. I heard about it here and there on the news and of course I remember situations like Rwanda and other historic times that have been memorialized in film, etc but the extent of the horrible things that happened in Africa continue in many ways to this day and I unfortunately have been pretty pathetic about caring. I changed emails because of moving and never signed up with the one groups' whose publications on the situation I completely trusted. I had resolved to act in some way but have done nothing beyond buying three t-shirts that some portion of the profit benefited care groups in those areas of Africa. I mean how sad is that? I'm not looking for a pat on the knee and an "it's okay, we can't all be over there helping. . ." and I know that financially and with a newborn outreach trips at this time are not in my future. I do however want to be MOVED. moved to care, and to act in SOME WAY. I truly believe the Lord caused me to pick up a book at the library this month to accomplish just that. Below I am copying some of its pages for your benefit. Keep in mind please that this woman is an atheist and counts such learned atheists as Richard Dawkins as friends. She ran away from her family to avoid an arranged marriage. Her religious background is Muslim, her homeland Somalia. She was "circumcised" as a child and even spent part of her school years under the tutelage of radical islamists. It is her mission in life to speak out about radical Islam and the dangers to western society; particularly Europe followed by America. She must have security 24-7 because what she says is blasphemy to the leaders of her religion. It was a major wake-up call to me and yet gave me hope that something can be done in my own community to change lives. Some of you might find this controversial, I will be honest in my niavete' of other religions. I do have Hindi friends though I do not know any friends of mine who count themselves Muslim. Perhaps I need to make some. . .you will see what I mean.

"right now there are three kinds of messages being disseminated in many immigrant communities in European cities: the traditional, more dilute Islam, which is clearly on the rise; and the get-rich-quick- scams offered by the lords of organized crime who deal in the trafficking of women, weapons, and drugs. I would prefer, as a fourth option, to offer Muslims who cling to the idea of a creator and eternal life a religious leader like Jesus, who said, "render to Ceasar the things that are Ceasar's and to God the things that are God's," rather than a warrior Muhammad, who demanded that the pious seek to gain power by the sword. To help ground these people in Western society, the West needs the Christian churches to get active again in propagating their faith. It needs Christian schools, Christian volunteers, the Christian message. The Saudis have no hesitation in converting Jean-Francois and Gustav to become "born-again" Muslims. The pope should be spreading his faith too. For Islam isn't a genetic inheritance. A child born in Holland is not bound to be a Muslim just because his parents come from Morocco.
     In the blighted neighborhoods of Europe where the jihadis currently have free rein, there is no special reason why Christians should not set up after-school programs, peer programs for teenagers, sports clubs, and homework help. Religious people are generally more effective that state-salaried caseworkers, teachers, and policemen, for such a woman it is an intense relief to have a volunteer who comes to help with cleaning, who says "I know what you're going through," and who comes back again and again. The housewife no longer feels alone. in the same way, I believe, we now need a Christian school for every madrassa, the Quran schools where children and young adults learn only to drone the Quran and the message of the Brotherhood. Christian schools are often poles of excellence in an otherwise blighted educational landscape, particularly in inner-city areas. They are schools that teach more than how to recite a sacred book by heart. They teach not only the full range of sciences and humanities, but also about a God who created reason and told humankind to let reason prevail.
      This is a contest that Christians have every chance of winning. The belief system of the Muslim Brotherhood stems from a very narrow Arab culture; that, it seems to me, is its weak point. My own country, Somalia, has always been Muslim, but it was never Wahabi until the mid-1980's. Previously, for most Somalis, Islam was more a question of tradition and occasional ritual than daily practice. Women frequently were bare-headed and wore Western clothes. But when people feel alienated and lost, when fundamental changes in their society make the world strange and unrecognizable, they can become vulnerable to foreign influences. Many people who allow themselves to be drawn into Wahabist Muslim groups are looking for spiritual solace and a strong sense of community in a cruel and troubling world. I was one too, as a teenager. What they are getting though, is a toxic mix of Arab imperialism and a violent, revolutionary cult in the guise of religion. If you suggest to a Somali woman in Whitechapel that she become an Arab, of course she'll reject you. but if you show charity and generosity and help her develop a sense of order and goodness, if you terrify her with the punishments and proximity of the hereafter, and if you are the only religion on the market, then she too may be tempted to join the Muslim Brotherhood, and her children may be indoctrinated and recruited for jihad. This is the successful method used by the Hezbollah in Lebanon and increasingly by radical Muslims all over Europe.
     Religious belief gives you companionship in adversity, the security of fixed rules, and the tempting feeling of self-surrender and submission. I remember the comfort of that feeling. Islam frightens you into their power to win this battle for the souls of humans in search of a compassionate God, who now find that a fierce Allah is closer to hand. The critical question is this: Does the United States have Christian networks comparable in their strength to that of the Roman Catholic Church that can be used today to combat the next phase of the expansion of fundamentalist Islam into America itself?
-pages 249-251in Nomad by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

um, WOW. Did you read what I just read? Granted this woman goes on to make it clear that she supports the efforts of mainstream churches who don't hold their beliefs to the crushing standards of their Muslim equivalants. So in that sense I am betting she prefers the "all roads lead to heaven" sort of mind frame to anything too restrictively "conservative". However I do not think this needs to be politicized but instead I pick up my jaw from the floor after reading that someone thinks the answer to the jihadist Muslim movement is direct intervention from Christian people. Jesus himself. I don't think most people understand how major this is and what an open door it could be to spread the gospel if only we are brave enough to take it. The women in these groups NEED a religious experience to take the place of their Muslim faith. WE can offer them the true ONE, Jesus Christ; and people like Ayaan would support it wholeheartedly! Do you think God is lifting up people like her in times like this for His purpose whether she accepts it or not? Absolutely. I am MOVED again. I hope to incorporate into my prayer life the hope of an oppurtunity to serve a person in the situation she describes. Through friendship, mom's groups, school friends, whatever way the Lord might lead me. Even in our country it can be dangerous for a Muslim woman to convert. There are still honor killings, female circumcisions and other atrocities happening under our noses in our country. Certainly it is not as prolific as in Muslim countries but I am blown away again at my lack of knowledge of the world around me. I just had to share this woman's story and most importantly the call for Christians to act. I pray we do act, to God's glory and the spreading of the gospel. Her first book is called "Infidel" and again the above excerpt came from "Nomad: from Islam to America - a personal journey through the clash of civilizations".

I finally accomplished my goal of getting all of my washington family to the coast. Ever since we hit seabrook three summers ago I have been dying to get mom there with all the grandkids. This year we were able to make it happen! I felt bad about them having to drive across the state and we only having to drive 3 hours but if you want the coast. . .well you gotta get to a coast. me and my "duh" statements. We had a fabulous time! I wasn't too happy that the sun didn't shine at all the first day. It felt really cold and was very windy. Poor Isaac had sand stuck to his face because I had rubbed him down with baby sunscreen and it was sticky stuff. He mostly slept through it though as I had my giant beach umbrella set up to protect him from the worst of the wind. The upside was that it was PERFECT for kite flying and Daniel had brought several trick kites so we had a lot of fun doing that. Then the sun came out for the rest of our trip and the kids could not get enough of the sand and waves. sigh. I love vacations! I was a little more tied down than usual with the 2 month old but I call it a success nevertheless! Here is the cream of the crop picture wise. (I wish I had a better camera on trips like this. . .)

DAY 1

our first walk to the beach

our front door

on our way to the playground (my nieces evelyn and morgyn)

she's even cute upside down! (my niece sophie)

nee nee time. . .

my nephew philip

who was CRAZY about the beach. nothing bothered him. the sand and water were his best friend. I couldn't get over how he tried over and over to walk straight into the surf.