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For the month of August we are taking a break from our usual schedule. Instead we invite you to be part of a challenge we hope will make an impact in your life and along the Silk Road.

In the companion video to the book, “Dying Out Loud” there is a portion that convicts me to pray more and debate less.

It acts as a defense against Satan’s attempts to dehumanize Muslims and people of the Dark Canyon area.

We’ve all seen the images of extremists committing atrocities. It’s awful to know such violence exists and even more so to view it. It is easy in the face of disturbing knowledge and even more disturbing images to let fear and avoidance push us away, leading us to believe things about others that are not true.

This ultimately hardens our hearts and potentially causes us to even write them off, either in belief or action. We cannot let this happen, we mustn’t let it happen. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV), tells us why, when it says, “…he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Everyone

Stan speaks to these lies from the pit, meant to divide and demonize, by telling the story of a man in Northern Iraq offering to risk his life and drive his truck through a possible land mine laden road. He talks about how this level of sacrifice came not from someone in their own mosque community, in which they have deep relationships, but from a complete and total stranger.

At the conclusion of the story Stan adds, “My Muslim brothers are weeping over my sickness. My heart is that our churches would weep over their losses. That our church boards would spend more time in prayer and less time in debate. Because, if we had an element of the concern and care that Muslims have for us, in our churches today; we would reach the world within a decade. These are people that deserve to be reached. These are people that deserve our agony and our efforts. They are people that deserve every possible sacrifice we can possibly offer to reach, because they are truly loved of God.”

What Am I Doing?

Stan’s words are so powerful and his family’s heart for his Silk Road and Dark Canyon family community so apparent. It moves me to self-examination:

Where am I spending my efforts?

Am I spending them in debate about things that when I stand before God will fall into the category of time wasted,

or in things that will shine light, bring life and break the chains of oppression?”

They also lead me to examine my heart, “Have I forsaken Muslims in general as lost and beyond salvation? Or without consciously thinking these things have I, by my lack of prayer or lack of action, functionally written them off?

So I keep Stan’s words in my mind so when I begin to forget what is truly important and as Satan hammers home the lies of who Muslims really are, I will remember what 2 Peter 3:9-10, says,

He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.”

With that additional reminder of how the Lord will come, I must choose my course and so must you.

So, will you pray for the people of the Silk Road and the Dark Canyon? Will you give to help reach them? Will you go there to pray? Will you go there to live among them? Remember, “The day will come like a thief” so don’t wait too long, seek the Lord and ask what He would have you do.

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