Bringing Preemptive Love to Mosul

Families fleeing Mosul

Fighting between the Iraqi army and ISIS in Mosul is reportedly winding down. But according to a UNICEF official, the fight for the city is by no means over.

Unfortunately, the combat is being waged in neighborhoods, mostly in the Old City section of Mosul, where there are 50,000 civilians left trapped. This is near the al-Nuri mosque that ISIS blew up last week in retaliation for the advancement of Iraqi forces.

The al-Nuri mosque was an important historical and religious symbol, having been used for 800 years. Now it's gone, the ground that it sat upon still controlled by ISIS which knows it's time in Mosul is coming to an end.

Hundreds of families have already fled Mosul. They were the lucky ones. Those remaining in the Old City section are trapped and desperate for help.

That's where Preemptive Love Coalition has come in.

For almost 10 years, Preemptive Love Coalition, founded by Jeremy and Jessica Courtney, has been offering an alternative to hate that leads to violence. The organization is mostly based in Iraq and Syria where it has been a dependable front-line presence.

According to Preemptive Love, these civilians in the Old City "are the only thing standing between ISIS and total defeat in Mosul."

And during this time the organization has been delivering life-saving food and water in neighborhoods torn apart by war.

But that's not all that Preemptive Love Coalition does.

"At the core of violence and conflict is fear," states the organization's website. "We fear loss. We fear shame. We fear ideologies and religious. We fear vulnerability. So we fight with attitudes and words, then with fists and bombs."

The solution as Preemptive Love Coalition sees it, is stated in their core values, which are: "Love anyway. Show up. Get out of the way."

The getting out of the way after providing initial support is essential because "peace, healing and sustainable change only come when we allow others [natives] to own their future."

The solution, in the eyes of Preemptive Love Coalition, looks like this:

1. Life saving heart surgeries for children.
2. Emergency relief for families victimized by ISIS.
3. Empowering grants for small businesses owners.
4. Education for at-risk children.
5. Peacemaking in conflict zones.
6. Counsel to policymakers in Washington, D.C., London, Baghdad and beyond.

The organization's foundation is in the power of love, used fearlessly, to remake the world.

It sounds like a dream, but Preemptive Love Coalition, working on the front-lines, is helping to bring that dream to reality.

Jeremy Courtney gave a powerful TED talk a few years back. His message stands true today.

I encourage you to find out more about Preemptive Love Coalition and support their mission.

Sometimes the challenge is difficult, but the solution is ultimately very simple.

Photo Credits:
Top photo: New York Times
Bottom photo courtesy of Preemptive Love Coalition

What's God Like?

What can we know of God?

Assuming that you believe in God, we can take a look at the Bible, the Quran and Torah in an attempt to answer the question.

For purposes of this discussion, let's get it down to a few things that, hopefully, we can agree on.

God is diverse.

Regardless of your particular brand of religious practice, this is fairly evident. The Bible even talks about having no excuse not to believe in God's existence. Because God is found in what God created. (Romans 1:20)

And it's astonishing the level of diversity found in creation.

There isn't one kind of rose, but 150. Not one kind of hosta, but thousands. According to WorldStory.net there are 20,000 species of fish, 6,000 species of reptiles, 9,000 species of birds, 1,000 species of amphibians and 15,000 species of mammals. That's a lot of diversity, isn't it?

Among many religions there is a tendency to believe that a particular denomination (or brand) of belief is the truest one. Why? Jesus said he was the way, the truth and the life. He also said no one comes to the father except through him. (John 14:6). But he didn't say you had to be an evangelical, or Congregational, or Catholic or Presbyterian, Reformed or Orthodox Jew, or Muslim. We need to be careful that we don't value our own brand of belief over God.  If we do, then, like the Pharisees, we are totally missing the point. (Matthew 14:13+)

God is forgiving.

Sometimes religion preaches a God of rules. And yes, it's true that God gave us the Ten Commandments. And we should obey them. Almost every other form of religion has some rules or precepts. But, on the other hand, God is also forgiving.

The Qu'ran, mentions forgiving multiple times. So does the Bible. Jesus taught that we would be forgiven to the extent that we forgive others. He talked about removing the beam from our own eye before we judge the splinter in our neighbor's eye. The Jewish faith teaches that forgiveness is a divine command. In the Bible, when the apostle Peter asked Jesus how many times he had to forgive, and guessed seven, Jesus told him seventy times seven. Implying there's no limit, so we shouldn't be counting.

Anyone who claims to be a Christian, Jew or Muslim who doesn't include forgiveness in what they are preaching isn't really giving you the full story of who God is. Case in point, Al Quaida, ISIS and ISIL are NOT legitimate God/Muslim-believing organizations. They are paramilitary political entities. When it gets down to it, there is no such thing as a radical Islamist organization because members of such groups aren't practicing the Muslim faith.  Ditto any Christian or Jew who claims to be following God when killing people.

God is merciful.

This point flows from God's forgiveness. But it's a bit different. Mercy is defined as compassion towards someone when it's in our power to punish.

Considering the history of the human race in general, and each of our own individual lives, it's probably safe to say that God has been merciful to us.

There is no such thing as an unpardonable sin. With the exception of Jesus saying that if we blaspheme the Holy Spirit, it's unforgiveable. This is defined as a willful, purposeful hardening of your heart against God. It's knowing that there's a God and a Spirit of God active in your life, but denying it. If you're concerned as to if you've done this, then you haven't.

The bottom line of it is that God doesn't hold grudges. God isn't waiting around the corner to ambush you with punishment. In fact, the Bible notes that God doesn't delight in sin, but wants to help us avoid it. (You could even make a case that the definition of sin is an action that harms our relationship with God. And God is a relational being).

If religion is an attempt to know God, then, from God's point of view, the whole point of religion is to "do justice, love mercy and walk humbly before your God." (Micah 6:8). This same passage, verbatim, is in the Torah (Michah = Micah). A very similar passage can be found in the Qu'ran 2:177)

When all is said and done, it's helpful to remember just how big God is. That, this side of heaven, there is much left of God to ponder. That's where faith comes in. And humility.



Photo Credits:
1. serviamministries
2. harvesthousepublishers.com
3. streamingglobedevotional.com

Wonder Woman & the 45th

Current happenings in Washington have, more and more, begun to resemble an old-fashioned morality play. Sort of like the current WONDER WOMAN film.

James Comey, former head of the F.B.I. testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Mr. Comey's testimony had millions tuned in to hear what he had to say.

Among other things, Comey called the current president a liar. Saying that the 45th's original reason for firing him (that he was incompetent and that the Bureau was not being run effectively) were "lies, plain and simple."

Attorney General Jeff Sessions also testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee. It was Sessions who suggested that the 45th fire Comey. Earlier in the year, Sessions recused himself from heading up the on-going investigation into possible Russian influence in the US presidential election last fall. Sessions flatly refused to answer any questions involving conversations he had with the 45th about Comey's firing or the Russian investigation, citing executive privilege to protect himself.

The 45th found out about Session's decision to recuse himself during a public event and was furious about being blindsided. It didn't help that the 45th has also blamed Sessions and the entire Department of Justice for two failed attempts to institute a travel ban against Muslims. As well as the appointment of an independent special counsel to head the investigation into Russia. (One thing Sessions can't be blamed for is the recent legal challenge filed by the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia against the 45th, alleging that the 45th's failure to get rid of his businesses "has significantly harmed public trust and violated the Constitution's laws against self-dealing.")

It seems as if there's a gigantic tug-of-war going on.

And in the middle of it, the 45th can't seem to keep quiet. In fact, Senator Lindsey Graham, who is a republican, has noted of the 45th:"You may be the first president in history to go down because you can't stop inappropriately talking about an investigation that, if you were just quiet, would clear you."

The Achilles heel for the 45th seems to be his thumbs, or more specifically, his Twitter account. Which conveniently and continually offers up to the public his spur-of-the-moment thoughts, leaving no doubt as to his true intentions, which can then be used in legal proceedings.

Meanwhile the current administration is left scurrying to explain the unexplainable. Not to mention they are being kept from focusing on much of anything else. You don't have to be a politically-minded individual to see these proceedings being played out as some sort of 21st century Greek tragedy.

Which leads one to muse, is it happenstance that the latest WONDER WOMAN film was released a couple of weeks ago?

As those who have already seen the film know, it takes place in 1918 as WWI is winding down.
At the same time in Themyscira, Diana, princess of the Amazon women there, is growing up. Diana is anxious to defeat Ares (god of war) but her mother warns her against it.

Until Steve Trevor, a member of the American Expeditionary Forces, crash-lands his airplane on Themyscira's coast, causing Diana to rescue him.

Steve is quite willing to go it alone, but she heads back to Europe with him to engage in the fight, becoming Wonder Woman in the process.

It seems that Germany has one last chance to win before the Armistice kicks in. A powerful chemical weapon developed by Dr. Maru ("Dr. Poison") under the direction of General Erich Ludendorff.

Wonder Woman supposes that General Ludendorff is actually Ares. If she can take out General Ludendorff evil will be crushed, the war will end, and people will stop being so hellbent on destroying each other. So, she's disappointed when, after defeating Ludendorff, the war continues. But Steve hijacks an airplane full of chemical weapons headed to the frontlines.

Meanwhile, in a fascinating twist, Wonder Woman learns that the seemingly mild-mannered Sir Patrick (who is heading up spy activities for the Allies) is actually her nemesis when he shows up on the scene in the weapons plant deep in German territory.

Sir Patrick, when cornered, reveals he is actually a counter-agent and tries to channel Wonder Woman's rage into killing Dr. Maru. After all, he says, I'm not actually evil. I just offer suggestions and people, being inherently evil, pick up on them. It's not my fault.

But Wonder Woman, in a series of flashbacks, realizes that people are also capable of great good - so they can't be all bad - as Ares suggests.

So, we're left to ponder, is the current administration fighting against Themyscira?

Is the 45th's inability to control himself turning him into General Ludendorff?

Is the 45th's Twitter account under the influence of Dr. Poison?

Is Steven Bannon a fourth-rate Ares?

Could Elizabeth Warren be Wonder Woman?

Fortunately, in the WONDER WOMAN film, Diana remains on earth, becoming Diana Prince, curator for the Louvre's Department of Antiquities as she continues to combat evil.

Let's hope her eyes are on D.C.

Here's the trailer to Wonder Woman.

Photo Credits:
James Comey - CNN
Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) - The Independent. UK

The Year of Small Things: A Conversation with Sarah Arthur & Erin Wasinger

Sarah Arthur (left) and Erin Wasinger

Sarah Arthur is a fun-loving speaker and the author of numerous books and resources on the intersection of faith and great stories. Her most recent title, with Erin Wasinger, is "The Year of Small Things: Radical Faith for the Rest of Us" (Brazos Press, Jan. 31, 2017). A graduate of Wheaton College and Duke University Divinity School, she speaks around the country on the role of stories and imagination in spiritual formation. She lives in Lansing, Michigan, with her young sons and her husband, Tom, pastor of Sycamore Creek Church.

Erin F. Wasinger is a writer, speaker, and blogger. After eight years at a newspaper in Wisconsin, Erin's now doing the freelance thing. Her favorite things to write about: personalities, her city, and faith. A native Midwesterner, she now lives in Lansing, Mich., with her family. 

When Sarah and Tom Arthur were appointed to a suburban church after three years in an urban Christian community, they faced a unique challenge: how to translate the practices of "radical" faith into their new context. Together with their friends and fellow church members Erin and Dave Wasinger, the Arthurs embarked on a yearlong experiment to implement twelve small practices of radical faith--not waiting until they were out of debt or the kids were out of diapers or God sent them elsewhere, but right now.

The Year of Small Things is Sarah and Erin's story, told with humor, theological reflection, and practical insight, exploring such practices as simplicity, hospitality, accountability, sustainability, and social justice--but, most of all, discernment. 

What has happened since The Year of Small Things was published? Can you provide an update?

Since the book came out in January, we’ve been able to take our discussions from the parsonage dinner table to the church and worlds we inhabit. That’s been the most meaningful. We’ve shared the Sycamore Creek Church story with Sycamore Creek, and we’ve been able to watch others form covenantal friendships and try their own “small things” challenges, be it joining a small group, being intentional about finances, or clearing out the clutter.

Personally, we’re still in the rhythm of “small things.” The Wasingers and Arthurs are still covenantal friends who meet weekly for dinner. Our kids are a little older, of course, which means they engage in our conversations more -- but even when they don’t, we adults keep talking because the kids can finally play outside without us hovering. A lot of the rest is just a little further down the path: Tom and Sarah still practice hospitality in our homes to those on the margins; Erin and Dave, meanwhile, have partnered with a refugee resettlement agency to practice hospitality to newcomers.

What has been the biggest takeaway of your commitment to live simply?

Probably the biggest takeaway is that it’s really hard to practice simplicity alone. That’s what prompted the whole project to begin with. It’s one thing to personally identify some good intentions--taking care of creation, knocking out debt, engaging in social justice--but it’s a whole different thing when a Christian friend looks at you across the dinner table every single week and asks, “So how is the budget going? Have you gotten that composted manure from the farm yet? When is the garage sale to get rid of material madness?” Something as simple as accountability--telling a trusted Christian friend about the steps you’re taking to follow Jesus in the small things--is the most important step.

One of the reflection questions after the Holy Times chapter is: “Where is there emotional clutter in your life?” How would you answer that?

Still, Facebook.

I (Erin) have been convicted lately that I need to steward more of my energy in relationships offline, as having that sphere of relationships online is a distraction from the knock on my door from my neighbor. (Not the other way around.)

In the chapter on Vows, Erin writes, “Be there. Be in touch. Be transparent. That’s how you prepare the soil for friendship.” What is the greatest way you’ve found to foster this in your own life? In the lives of your children?

Sycamore Creek Church (our church in the Lansing area) models this story of transparency from the teacher on Sunday (or Monday night) to the small group leaders I’ve had. It’s easier to be open about our lives when we’re not the only ones hanging our laundry outside, so to speak. I can’t emphasize enough how having others in our church be open about their lives has shaped my own understanding of what friendships should be.

Our church is our kids’ too, so this is their culture from worship to breakfast to bedtime every day. I don’t feel the need to superficially teach them or curate their lives in the hopes they’d experience this kind of friendship. I trust that modeling the importance of deep friendships in my life and our family’s life is shaping their view of what these relationships look like.

Speaking of children, in the chapter on Kids Monasticism, Sarah’s husband mentions John Wesley’s  3 Simple Rules. Erin writes about the challenging decision regarding which school system to choose for your kids. What is your biggest take-away for engaging kids in the New Monasticism?

There is no single big takeaway, unless you count the truth that each day our kids get older and present new challenges and opportunities for us to talk about our values. “Our family chooses not to buy (something expensive) so we can instead …” is where we find ourselves a lot. Same with how we spend our time.

This is tough. Kids don’t want to be counter-cultural at age 8. They want to have a big birthday party like their friend did, and wear the name-brand sweatshirt that their classmates are wearing. New Monasticism will not make you the most popular parent.

The older the kids get, too, the more prayer, covenantal friends, and church are necessary for us to feel supported. This parenting stuff is hard.

Erin writes, in the chapter on Unselfish Self-Care, “We’re all broken; we’re all in need of redemption and healing. Recognizing that is a gift. Pretending otherwise kills authentic relationships.” In your own experience, why is this, on the one hand, so obvious and on the other, so difficult to face?

Simply put, it’s way more fun to deal with someone else’s mess than to open the closet door and look at your own. It feels good when we can help someone find healing and redemption. On the other hand, radical vulnerability is a practice in humility.

Sarah writes in the chapter on Just Living, “I can become habituated in a love of God that is stronger than fear, stronger than any cultural narrative that values safety, security and comfort above all things.” How do we develop this type of love of God? And why is it so important?

It comes right down to the way our muscles move our bodies through the world, particularly the way our fives senses--especially our sense of smell--respond to the bodies of others. In the New Testament we see Jesus reaching for the “unclean,” touching the diseased, eating with the people our mothers warned us against. He self-identified as homeless. He hung out with fishermen, who smelled like their trade; and prostitutes, who also smelled like their trade; and sinners, who smelled like everything from alcohol to urine to sweat and underarm odor -- all of the things that make us pull away from the very people Jesus loves.

Somehow we’ve been taught to associate “difference” with sin, with depravity, or at least with overwhelming need that spotlights our own inability to actually change the world. The challenge is to retrain our muscles and senses to move toward the people we’ve been taught to fear--and not because we’re trying to save them, but because that’s where Jesus hangs out. If we love Jesus, we want to be where he is. On the margins. With those who look, sound, smell funny, or bad, or just different. And we learn to ask, out of the depths of our own inadequacy, for the love of God. Because if we try to draw upon the well of our own natural abilities or inclinations, we run dry every time. It must be God’s own love.

In the same chapter Erin writes, “Knowing starts with listening…” Can you offer any tips on how to become a good listener?

Plenty of books exist to improve your listening skills, but here are a few I remind myself:
Set aside your phones or tablets first. When someone’s feeling vulnerable, they need to know they can trust you to give them their full attention.

Practice active listening -- when someone is sharing something, don’t interject with a story or words of advice. Instead, echo back to them their own thoughts.

One of the tricks up my sleeve is to talk while we’re driving somewhere. No one has to make eye contact. There feels like a natural start and end to the conversation. Silences feel more natural, too, which allows me as an introvert to pray between bursts of conversation.

A helpful book (which isn’t religious) is There is No Good Card For This: What To Say and Do When Life Is Scary, Awful, and Unfair to People You Love by Emily McDowell and Kelsey Crowe.

You can listen to a podcast discussion of The Year of Small Things, featuring Sarah and Erin with at: http://erinwasinger.podbean.com/

You can follow Sarah on Twitter here;  and Erin here

Sarah's website:  and Erin's website

The website for The Year of Small Things can be found here

To purchase a copy of The Year of Small Things, go here