One American's Response to Terrorism

» Dan_Ellsworth - Prayer breakthrough / Mind breakthrough

I did not reach, by myself, a point of being able to pray for those who actually committed the deeds in question. Only in corporate prayer, at church, with my church family around me, a kind and sensitive pastor leading at prayer, did I begin to live out that part of our faith.

I think you experienced a mental breakthrough when you (on your own?) made that prayer breakthrough. You told of a growing realization that I think is important, that those women from Afghanistan are NOT the enemy. Similarly, only when I let myself see the people of that nation as human, do I begin to think of possibly millions of people still there who are NOT the enemy. I don't remember (and could not find) all the words of Jimmy Dean's "Dear Ivan" recording, but I wonder if a "Dear Abdul" counterpart might be in order, an olive branch from a U.S. average person to an Afghan man in the street.

For me this is an abstract possibility; for you it is a very specific challenge, to carry on this tutoring and meet those women as people, not as symbols. It is a hard but right path you take. I know - the mind may know those women as victims, but the emotions may see them as enemy. Only through your faith can you get your emotions to begin to catch up with your mind.

Eventually.

Readers: Through the special e-mail address in the article, Diana has offered you this choice; take either or both: She is the informed and friendly hostess of this topic; she is a follower of Jesus Christ. You can confer with her on either without reference to the other. That seems civilized to me.

-- posted by Dan_Ellsworth

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» CLGlover - We should not show hatred to them all!!!

The situation that happened on 9/11 was a tragedy in its lost. We should not destroy innocent lives; we should be the bigger persons. Then again we should not let anyone take advantage of us. Have we not realized that there is a God? We need to all turn our life over to Christ. We all will eventually leave here one day, how we will leave is still unanswered in our eyes. Our choice is heaven or hell. Which offer do you take?

-- posted by CLGlover

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» chrismsc2005 - Americans Response To terrorism

I believe that it is funny how we try to keep God out of everything public yet when a huge public tragedy happens it is the first place that people run too. Most religions believe that there is a higher being and the only diffence in these religions is how you connect with that god. I found the authors connection with his Lord to be inspiring because we do need to put aside are stereotypes in our mind more often and listen to what God is telling us to do no matter who your god is.

-- posted by chrismsc2005

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