Courageous Joy

If it's Worth Living For - or Current Events

Current events (Fox journalists captured and released after converting to Islam) have led to interesting discussions in our home. I told Mike that if I did not have a vital relationship with Jesus, I may well have "converted" to avoid death. It is not my intent to criticize the choice made by captives....however, I do cringe when I think that the gihadists may now think all Americans will convert if given the right motivation. I suppose being raised as a missionary kid where we knew that if captured we would not be ransomed...sort of colors my view of these events. If we had been ransomed it would have been "open season on American missionaries". Most mission agencies had policies stating they would not pay ransom for their missionaries. My parents signed a statement to that affect before going overseas.

Mike discussed with the children that our society has become one where we live for TODAY and we don't think much about the future or eternity. 9-11 brought us face to face with a culture that doesn't give much thought to today but lives for the future and eternity. This leads to inshallah (it is written).....we don't get too upset about today because "ah well - it's meant to be". If I kill 3000 innoncent civilians well - inshallah. If I torture an innocent relief worker on video - inshallah.

We have discussed that God calls us, as his children and passionate followers of Christ, to live in today but to LIVE FOR the future and eternity. We discussed that Jesus has each of us in His care. We can trust and rest in His care.

In short, if something is worth living for it should also be worth dying for. Evaluating life, relationships and circumstances in that light tends to quickly weed out what is truly worth living for. We have a list....Christ, family, freedom, country...