Let the Written Agenda by our daily guide

2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, 1 and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face. 2 2:2 My goal is that 3 their hearts, having been knit together 4 in love, may be encouraged, and that 5 they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 6 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 2:4 I say this so that no one will deceive you through arguments 7 that sound reasonable. 8 2:5 For though 9 I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to see 10 your morale 11 and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

This past Friday, I got to meet someone from Saudi Arabia, a guy named Kassim to those who met him. I saw him standing by the day before we were to gather for large group. Once we started talking about religion, and what our church was all about, it was like we had so much in common, even though he was muslim. We talked all through worship (ok, not the best timing, but it was for a good reason!) and when we were walking I felt like God was showing me something from the future, when both arabs and americans, as well as arabs and israelites, would walk together hand in hand, living by the peace in Jesus Christ. However, as he talked to me about differences between Sunni and Shia, Iran and Saudi Arabia, and details about the prophet, he also made very clear his disdain for Israel. He even told me that Iran loves its Jewish population, and that Mahmoud Ahmedinejahd (its president), was actually a peaceful man, but only wanted Palestine to take over Israel, where they would live peacefully side by side (!). He didn't have much of an answer for why the man denies the holocaust, persecutes ruthlessly his own religious group called Bahai'i, or why Iran would help fund terrorist groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon or Hamas in Palestine. God tells us that he will bless those who bless Israel, and curse those who curse her (Genesis 12:3). Despite how close I feel towards him, I must remember that the word of my God remains true forever, and not to be 'deceived by arguments that sound reasonable' (for I would love to believe that the Arab world only wants to live in peace with the people of Israel!).

More and more these days I think about what it was like as a kid, hanging out with my friends, running around outdoors, lighting off fireworks, fishing, playing videogames, and playing soccer, swimming, etc. In some ways I believe this is God's way of reminding me how He wants me to know I am still His child. And like a father wants to see his children's hearts knit together, so should we be, even among siblings that we don't get along with. I will keep meditating on pure thoughts of joy in seeing the family I may not even know yet, together with all of us, in the presence of our Father who loves us beyond our deepest of understanding!