*** والقصد من هذا بلوق ليس لتقزيمه الإسلام أو المسلمين، ولكن لتكشف عن وجود حاجة داخل كل شخص واحد لديه، هو، وسيكون موجودا من أي وقت مضى. لا تقرأ هذا ويغيب عن هذه النقطة. فإنه ليس له علاقة تذكر مع أساليب أو الأفكار الإسلامية، ولكن المسألة الشاملة في كل واحد منا الذين هم بحكم طبيعتها خاطئين ***

أريد أن أطلعكم على قصة حقيقية ولقد قرأت مؤخرا حول ما حدث قبل سنوات قليلة في جنوب غرب ايران. القصة يقرأ،

"هناك، انه تم العثور على امرأة متزوجة وأم لتسعة أطفال من قبل باسم ثريا مذنبا بارتكاب جريمة الزنا وكان ينتظر حكم الإعدام الصادر ضدها التي يتعين الاضطلاع بها.

أخيرا، وصلت اليوم، وكان ثريا اصطحب إلى ساحة البلدة. جسدها، يرتدي معطفا طويلا في ثوب أبيض بسيط، وضعت بعناية في حفرة حفرت خصيصا لهذه المناسبة. فقط تعرضوا رأسها والكتفين. وقد تجمع حشد كبير، وكانوا يتوقعون أوامر رئيس البلدية لتنفيذ الحكم. ذكر رئيس البلدية الجماهير إلى التراجع لا يقل عن 20 قدم، وانه استخدم رئيس ثريا باعتبارها مركز دائرة دقيقة انه تميز بها. ثم أمسك حجرا وسلمها إلى والده ثريا و: "إنه لكم أن يصيب شرف رمي الحجر الأول ... الرجاء المضي قدما."

هتف والدها، "أن الله المحمودة!" ورمى الحجر، وعلى الرغم من عدم تحقيق الهدف. وغاب عدة مرات، وأخيرا أعطى الحق لغربان علي، زوج ثريا لل. وشجع رئيس البلدية الزوج قائلا: "وفقنا الله ذراعك." (يوحنا وأمير 61-62)

قصة تطول مع الحجر الزوج ثريا في إجراء اتصالات مع جبينها، مما تسبب في احتفال المسلمين إلى الانضمام على الرجم لمعاقبة ثريا لذنبها، مما أدى إلى وفاتها. ما أريد القيام به في هذا بلوق هو اقتراح بديل لنهاية هذه القصة. أعتقد أنك قد تجد أنه أكثر حتى كسر القلب.

"والد Sorayah غاب مرات عديدة وأخيرا أعطى الحق غربان علي، زوج ثريا لل. وشجع رئيس البلدية الزوج قائلا: "الله يهديكم الذراع." (تبدأ نهاية البديل) وبعد بيان رئيس البلدية كان هناك وقفة طويلة. غربان علي كان مجرد الوقوف هناك، وعقد الحجر، يحدق في زوجته الذين ارتكبوا الزنا ضده. بدأ الحشد يهتف صرخات الموت لثريا، مع أمل تسريع عملية. بدأ غربان علي السير نحو زوجته وكما فعل، بدأت الدموع تتدحرج على خده. كل خطوة أقرب بدأ في الانخفاض عاطفيا بعيدا. في أقرب وقت كما كان إلى حيث كان ثريا، وإسقاط حجر يصل الحشد إلى الصمت التام.

ما حدث بعد ذلك لم يكن من المنطقي أن أي شخص في الحشد، لا رئيس البلدية، ولا سيما ثريا. Ghordan العلي استغرق ثريا من جهة، وسحبت لها من الخروج من الحفرة، ووضع نفسه في حفرة في مكانها. غضب من تصرفه، بدأ الحشد أعمال شغب إعطاء غربان علي، تستحق ثريا الموت. توفي Ghordan العلي، الزوج الصالح المؤمنين، وفاة حكمت لثريا، استحق على زوجة اثيم غير مخلص ".

لم Ghordan العلي يكن لديك لتفعل ما فعله! كان في الواقع الشيء منصفة وعادلة بالنسبة له للقيام إلى حجر زوجته لتصرفاتها! Ghordan العلي تحولت أماكن مثل برئ وأصبح مذنبا على الرغم من أنه لم يفعل أي شيء خاطئ.

بلدي نهاية البديل ليس صحيحا، ولكن هي رمزية لقصة هذا صحيح. غادر يسوع عرشه في السماء، لتأخذ على شكل رجل، ليعيش الحياة التي لا يمكن أن يعيش، لدفع الثمن ونحن لا يمكن أن تدفع، والموت وفاة أننا نستحق أن يموت. نحن كشعب هي جميعا مذنبون تماما كما الخطاة أمام الله المقدسة. لوحدنا نحن مثل ثريا، ميؤوس منها، وخسر مع نهاية فقط في الاعتبار من اللعنة الأبدية. نحن عالقون في حفرة وليس لديهم من قوة للخروج وحتى اذا لم نفعل فإننا سوف يسقط حق تكبير الخريطة. مثل ثريا، السبيل الوحيد للخروج من الحفرة التي هو مخلص. ومثلما استغرق غربان علي المكان لزوجته، وقد اتخذت يسوع المكان بالنسبة لنا. والفرق الوحيد هو أن غربان علي دفع ثمن الخطيئة ثريا ويبقى ميتا. يسوع دفع ثمن خطايانا وقام من بين الأموات، والآن على قيد الحياة إلى الأبد، أبدا أن يموت مرة أخرى.

يسوع هو الله، هو عرض سيادته على الخطيئة والموت عن طريق اتخاذ الموت والتغلب عليها. انه يأخذ على العقوبة لدينا حتى نتمكن من أن يكون نقيا من الذنوب لدينا. وهذه الذبيحة الوحيدة التي يمكن أن تلبي غضب الله ليكون الله (وكان يسوع الله في الجسد)، أي شيء أقل (بما في ذلك أعمال البر القائم على أساس الدين) يمكن أن لا يرضي الله. إذا نحن الخطاة كما يمكن ان يرضي الله، وليس الله لأنه يمكن أن يكون راضيا من قبل قوة أقل من نفسه ... إذا هو الكمال الله ونحن الكمال، ليس هناك شيء يمكننا القيام به للحصول على موافقته.

وأهيب بكم اليوم نيابة عن كلمة الله، إنجيل يسوع المسيح، وقوة الصليب ليتوبوا ويرجعوا من ذنبك، ووضع ثقتك في يسوع ليطهرك من ذنبك. بدون يسوع، محكوم علينا كشعب خاطئين أمام الله القدوس!

"يسوع الدول ذات" لهذا السبب الآب يحبني لأني أضع نفسي بأنني قد تناوله مرة أخرى. ليس أحد يأخذها مني، بل أضعها أنا على اتفاق بلدي. لدي السلطة لأضعها، وليس لدي سلطة على تناوله مرة أخرى. هذه التهمة التي تلقيتها من أبي "(يوحنا 10:17-18، ESV)

يكون هذا العقل بين أنفسكم، والذي هو لك في المسيح يسوع، الذين على الرغم من انه كان في صورة الله، لم تعول المساواة مع الله شيء يجب اغتنامها. انه أخلى نفسه، من خلال اتخاذ شكل خادما، ولدت في شبه الناس. وكونها وجدت في شكل الإنسان، وقال انه بالتواضع نفسه قبل أن يصبح مطيعا لدرجة الموت، حتى الموت على الصليب. وبالتالي فإن الله تعالى له بشدة له وأنعم عليه بالاسم الذي يفوق كل اسم، بحيث في اسم يسوع كل ركبة أن تنحني، في السماء وعلى الأرض وتحت الأرض، ويعترف كل لسان أن يسوع المسيح هو الرب، لمجد الله الآب. (فيلبي 2:5-11، ESV)

الاقتباس:

(أين حصلت على قصة حقيقية من)

جون، Ankerberg، و[كنر] أمير. لجنة تقصي الحقائق حول الإسلام والمرأة. 1 إد. 1. يوجين، أوريغون: حصاد الناشرين البيت، 2009. 61-62. طباعة.

Email: chapadavadoo@yahoo.com

***The intent of this blog is not to belittle Islam or Muslims, but to reveal a need inside of every single person who has, is, and ever will exist. Don't read this and miss the point. It has little to do with Islamic methods or ideas, but the overall issue in all of us who are by nature sinful***

I want to share with you a true story I recently read about that happened a few years ago in Southwestern Iran. The story reads,

“There, a married woman and mother of nine children by the name of Soraya had been found guilty of adultery and was waiting for her death sentence to be carried out.

Finally, the day arrived and Soraya was escorted to the town square. Her body, cloaked in a simple white dress, was carefully placed into a hole especially dug for this occasion. Only her head and shoulders were exposed. A large crowd had gathered, and they were anticipating the mayor’s orders to execute the sentence. The mayor mentioned the crowd to step back at least 20 feet, and he used Soraya’s head as the center of a precise circle he marked out. Then he grabbed a stone and handed it to Soraya’s father: “It is to you that befall the honor of throwing the first stone… Please proceed.”

Her father exclaimed, “Allah be Praised!” and threw the stone, although missing the target. He missed numerous times and finally gave the right to Ghorban-Ali, Soraya’s husband. The mayor encouraged the husband stating, “May God guide your arm.” (John and Emir 61-62)

The Story goes on with Soraya’s husband’s stone making contact with her forehead, causing a celebration of Muslims to join in on the stoning to punish Soraya for her sin, resulting in her death. What I want to do in this blog is propose an alternate ending to this story. I think you may find it even more heart breaking.

“Sorayah’s father missed numerous times and finally gave the right Ghorban-Ali, Soraya’s husband. The mayor encouraged the husband stating, “May God guide you arm.” (Alternate ending begins)  Following the mayor’s statement there was a long pause. Ghorban-Ali was just standing there, holding the stone, staring at his wife who had committed adultery against him.  The crowd started chanting death cries to Soraya, with hopes of speeding up the process. Ghorban-Ali began to walk towards His wife and as He did, tears began to roll down his cheek. Each and every step closer He began to emotionally fall apart. As soon as He was to where Soraya was, He dropped the stone bringing the crowd to a complete silence.

What happened next did not make sense to anyone in the crowd, neither the mayor, nor especially Soraya. Ghordan-Ali took Soraya by the hand and pulled her out of the hole, putting himself in the hole in her place. Outraged by his act, the crowd began a riot giving Ghorban-Ali, the death Soraya deserved. Ghordan-Ali, a faithful righteous husband, died the death sentenced for Soraya, an unfaithful unrighteous wife deserved.”

Ghordan-Ali didn’t have to do what He did! Actually the fair and just thing for Him to do was to stone His wife for her actions! Ghordan-Ali switched places as the guiltless and became the guilty even though He did not do anything wrong.

My alternative ending is not true, but is symbolic to a story that is true. Jesus left His throne in heaven, to take on the form a man, to live the life we couldn’t live, to the pay the price we could not pay, and to die the death we deserved to die. We as people are all absolutely guilty as sinners before a holy God. On our own we are like Soraya, hopeless, lost and with the only end in mind of eternal damnation. We are stuck in a hole and don’t have the strength to get out and even if we do we will fall right back in. Like Soraya, the only way out of the hole is by a Savior. Just as Ghorban-Ali took the place for His wife, Jesus has taken the place for us. The only difference is that Ghorban-Ali paid the price of Soraya’s sin and remains dead. Jesus paid the price of our sin and resurrected from the dead, now eternally alive, never to die again.

Jesus as God, show’s his sovereignty over sin and death by taking on death and overcoming it. He takes on our punishment so that we can be cleansed of our sin. The only sacrifice that could satisfy the wrath of God had to be God (Jesus was God in the flesh), anything less (including works righteously based on religion) could not satisfy God.  If we as sinners can satisfy God, He is not a God because He can be satisfied by a power less than Himself… If God is perfected and we are imperfect, there is nothing we can do to obtain His approval.

I encourage you today on behalf of the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Power of the Cross to repent and turn from your sin, placing your trust in Jesus to cleanse you of your sin. Without Jesus, we are doomed as sinful people before a holy God!

“Jesus states—“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18, ESV)

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. He emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11, ESV)

Citation:

(Where I got the true story from)

John, Ankerberg, and Caner Emir. The Truth About Islam & Women. 1st ed. 1. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2009. 61-62. Print.

Recently at bible study, we discussed the next phase in our lives. Some of us are going to school, the military, or the workforce. When we talk about the future, we begin to feel a great deal of emotions. Of these emotions we usually experience fear, doubt, excitement, curiosity, but especially worry. Worry is probably the root of all those other emotions. Worry comes from uncertainty. We begin to worry about ourselves and what is going to happen next, and many other questions. Not only do we worry about ourselves, but our close friends and family. What will they do? Who will my little brother look up too? Will my parents get divorced now that I am out of the house? Will my parent who is divorced or widowed feel lonely and fall into temptation without me around to encouraged them and them to encourage me? The thought of the future brings about much of this.

God led us to Matthew chapter 6:25-34, a passage about worry. Jesus teaches His disciples that they need not worry about anything from clothes to food, shelter or even a single hour of their life. He tells them that God is control and He will provide all their needs. Jesus even tells them of how God provides food for the birds and rain for the grass, reminding them that they are way more valuable to the Father than the all other parts of His creation. He shows them that if God provides for rest of creation, and us being more valuable, then how much more will He provide for us? He refers to the people who worry as people of little faith and compares them to the pagans. As we are reading this passage, I begin to feel peace in my spirit for my group and I. Then it hit me hard when I got to verse 33, it says:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 ESV)

Could you imagine the emotion? Here is Jesus telling them that God will provide all there needs and not to worry about anything. I imagine questions running through the disciple’s heads like. “Wait a minute? You’re going to provide to me all things? And you want me to seek a kingdom that I have never heard about? And have no idea what it is like?”

Little did the disciples realize at that time, that Jesus was explaining to them that it is not about what you have on this earth, but where you’re going after this this present life. Jesus is pointing to the fact that our home, our final destination is not of this world.  A place where all our needs will be met, where we will never have to worry about what we will eat or drink. A place where the kingdom is more than brick or mortar, but the fullness of the presence of God!

Then the question dawned on me, “Ok Jesus, what does it mean to seek the kingdom? I get that I need to trust in you, but what does that mean to not worry about this life and seek the kingdom? How do I seek a place not of this world while I am here on this world?”

God was faithful to my prayer and led my to Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:3 it says:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3 ESV)

Jesus is calling us to be ‘poor’ in spirit, ‘poor’ to ourselves! Neglecting the desires of our flesh, not finding satisfaction in this world, because we have inherited a kingdom that is far better. He is saying don’t trade away the kingdom to come, that is all eternally satisfying, for this momentary kingdom, that cannot satisfy and is ultimately going to end.

There two specific things that we can get from both Matthew 6:33 and Matthew 5:3:

The first is that to be a Christian means to have our hearts set on another world. A world where there is a kingdom that is greater than any established here on this earth. A kingdom that does not require us to worry about food, clothes, or possessions. A kingdom where the king is faithful to provide all things!!! (Seek first the kingdom and all WILL be added to you). This kingdom, where nothing is desired, because we have been filled and satisfied! Where thirst is quenched, hunger is no more, and we are reigning with Christ! A kingdom where the highlight is the King!

The second is that to be with Christ in His kingdom, is going to require submission to King Jesus. To take up our cross and follow Jesus. To be poor in spirit and live out the mission of Jesus, not the mission of ‘ME’ or ‘I’. Because we have found something greater than ‘ME’ or ‘I’. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. Blessed are those who have found a kingdom worth forsaking this one for.

Don’t let the idea of self-denial and sacrifice in faith of a better Kingdom intimidate you. Rejoice in it, that because of Jesus, our home is not of this world! Where every need will be met, by the fullness of the presence of God!

The following day I had the opportunity to have lunch with my friend and He showed me Hebrews 11. Hebrews 11 is the chapter about the Bible MVP’s, the men of great faith, who God used to do crazy things from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation! As I began to read the passage, there was one thing that really stuck out about these awesome stories. That all of these men did what they did, not because they had their hearts fixed on this world, but because they had their hearts fixed on a better kingdom. In fact in Hebrews 11:13-15 describes these people as:

      - “Strangers and exiles on earth”

      - “People who were “seeking a homeland”

      -  “People in search of a better country that is a heavenly one”

      - “People fixed on city that God has prepared for them”

It goes on to say in that same passage that God has indeed prepared a place for them, because He was not ashamed to be their God.

What is it that made God not ashamed to be their God?....…. They had their eyes on the kingdom!

These people chose to desire the kingdom over food or clothes. They became poor to themselves and pursed a world greater than this, even to the point of death. One thing all these all time greats had in common is that they all endured suffering through faith in a better life!

If we truly purse the kingdom of God, suffering is happening and if not, it is coming! Suffering is an overflow of being a disciple of Christ. If you do not experience suffering than you are not pursuing the kingdom, you are not following Gods will for your life, and you are not submitting to Jesus! Don’t let lack of mission, laziness, and seduction keep you from being apart of the most important mission of all eternity.

These men who had faith in the kingdom of God experience extreme suffering! Abraham offered up His one and only son! Imagine God promising you a son, He blesses you with one, and then many years later tells  you to sacrifice him. Granted, God came through and provided an alternate sacrifice. The sacrifice being a lamb only to represent the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who would come later on it time.

Moses led the Israelites out of slavery, crossing the red sea! You might be saying that is an awesome story! He saved Egypt, but I guarantee you it included suffering. The Israelites were beaten, malnourished, and I bet you when they saw the Red Sea split, that it was not like walking through a glamourous aquarium at a musuem. Not to mention once they crossed the Red Sea, they wandered in the desert for 40 years! It doesn’t stop there but continues through verse 32-40:

[32] And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets-

who through faith:



-       Conquered kingdoms

-       Enforced justice

-       Obtained promises

-       Stopped the mouths of lions

-       Quenched the power of fire

-       Escaped the edge of the sword

-       Were made strong out of weakness

-       Became mighty in war

-       Put foreign armies to flight

-       Women received back their dead by resurrection.

-       Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.

-       -Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment

-       They were stoned

-       They were sawn in two

-       They were killed with the sword

-       They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.


[39] And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, [40] since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

(Hebrews 11:33-40 ESV) 

Three things I want you to get:

#1 This World Is Not Our Home

Your home is not where you grew up as a child, or your current address. Our home is where the kingdom is, where Jesus is. I know we are have not arrived, but until then we need to be obedient to follow where the kingdom is leading us currently in our lives. Don’t waste your money on making a nicer home, but spend it on mission, growing your eternal home, filling it with brothers and sisters who have yet to realize that this world is not their home.

#2 Humility, Seek, And Be Filled

Humble yourself and bee poor in spirit, seek the kingdom and follow where God is leading you to complete His mission. Be filled with the fullness of joy through the Holy Spirit and realize every thing will one day be added to you when we are with Jesus in heaven! We serve a God in whom are all things. He is everything. It is not like He is going to give you a better car in heaven, but we are going to be with Him.

#3 Endure, Persevere, Focus On The Kingdom

We need to pray for God to give us the endurance to persevere! Stay focused on the kingdom, the King. If we look at our world and ourselves, we will loose hope. But that lose of hope should only drive us to hope in Jesus. Jesus is our only hope.

There is coming a day when in heaven, that every ounce of suffering and brokenness will make perfect sense, when we look upon the face of Jesus!

Love in Christ,

David Marino