United 93: A Film that Defines Our Generation

I just got back from a sneak preview of the film “United 93”. It opens in the US this Friday, April 28.

You need to see this film. Take your family members, friends and co-workers to see it with you. Take your high school age and older children to see it with you. Take your neighbors along if they can’t get a ride to the movie theatre. Just go and see it.

There are very few films that I would say define a generation. This one is it. If you only see one film this year, see “United 93”. If you attend only one film per decade, attend “United 93”. You won’t be sorry.

I don’t know when the film opens overseas, but as soon as it hits your shores go and see it. You don’t have to understand “American” to understand it. In fact, you don’t have understand any of the dialogue to read the surprise, shock, fear, horror and awe on the faces of the actors­-and some of the actual people who manned the air traffic control centers on that fateful day. If they gave an Academy Award for ensemble casts, this one would win big time.

This is a movie that everyone will be discussing around the water cooler. Forget “The DaVinci Code”. It’s Mickey Mouse stuff. If you read the book, who needs to see the movie? “United 93” ranks miles above such a silly thriller. "United 93" is based on a real-life drama. It will provoke real-life and real, meaningful discussions. Perhaps positive, life-altering discussions.

I won’t get into it here. You have to see the film­--then we can talk about it. Yeah, people will definitely be discussing “United 93” for a long time after they’ve forgotten the brouhaha over Dan Brown’s infantile piece.

And skip the popcorn. You’ll be riveted to your seat. It’ll be cold and you won’t want to eat it by the time you leave the theatre anyway.

Christians Can Persecute Christians, Too

A Serbian Orthodox priest jailed for practicing his faith:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/opriest;_ylt=AqeDNvylr.
W6Grr0_fCEzwNbbBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b3JuZGZhBHNlYwM3MjE-

It's stories like these that give all Christians a bad name. The bad blood between the Serbian and Macedonian Orthodox Churches is nothing more than nationalism thinly disguised as religion. Macedonians simply do not have it in their hearts in the 21st Century to forgive Serbians for past persecutions.

Let's pray these two churches can come together in the Spirit of Christ and forgive their ancient hurts. Let's pray that all denominations can agree that the most important thing is to share the Good News, not to address old political and culturual scores. Let's pray that 1 John is taken to heart: "God is love." That leaves no room for hatred of our fellow man--including fellow Christians.

P.S. My Easter blog is posted at my Every Day *Is* Mother's Day blog site: http://momsday.blogspot.com or http://www.cynthianna.com/momsday_index.html

A Blessed Easter to you and yours. He has risen! :)

"Abdul Rahman must be killed. Islam demands it."

From the Associated Press:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060328/ap_on_re_as/afghan_christian_convert

Rahman, 41, was released from the high-security Policharki prison on the outskirts of Kabul late Monday, Afghan Justice Minister Mohammed Sarwar Danish told The Associated Press.

"We released him last night because the prosecutors told us to," he said. "His family was there when he was freed, but I don't know where he was taken."

Deputy Attorney-General Mohammed Eshak Aloko said prosecutors had issued a letter calling for Rahman's release because "he was mentally unfit to stand trial." He also said he did not know where Rahman had gone after being released.

He said Rahman may be sent overseas for medical treatment.

On Monday, hundreds of clerics, students and others chanting "Death to Christians!" marched through the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif to protest the court decision Sunday to dismiss the case. Several Muslim clerics threatened to incite Afghans to kill Rahman if he is freed, saying that he is clearly guilty of apostasy and deserves to die.

"Abdul Rahman must be killed. Islam demands it," said senior Cleric Faiez Mohammed, from the nearby northern city of Kunduz. "The Christian foreigners occupying Afghanistan are attacking our religion."

Rahman was arrested last month after police discovered him with a Bible during a custody dispute over his two daughters. He was put on trial last week for converting 16 years ago while he was a medical aid worker for an international Christian group helping Afghan refugees in Pakistan. He faced the death penalty under Afghanistan's Islamic laws.

I don't know. I used to be open-minded when it came to Islam being described as a "religion of peace". But then you hear its leaders crying:

"Abdul Rahman must be killed. Islam demands it."

Islam demands those who don't agree with its basic beliefs to be killed? I'm really confused. If these Afghani clerics are mistaken in what Islam really stands for, why doesn't anyone else in a position of leadership in the Islamic tradition step up and quickly correct these bloodthirsty clerics or simply tell them to hush up?

I'm afraid the real reason no one ever steps up to deny these claims is because these outraged Afghani clerics are speaking the truth about Islam... That it does demand death for anyone who doesn't stay within its folds.

Many modern day Muslims bring up the past by saying the Christian Crusaders were just as bloodthirsty. Probably. But most in the church didn't agree with the Crusaders' tactics of "convert or die" and Christianity has moved on from those disgraceful practices.

After all, Jesus said, "Love your enemy--do good to those who persecute you." Christians have asked for forgiveness from those they've wronged and from God. And they have moved on, confident that they have received it because of Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

If Islam is such a "peaceful" religion, then why hasn't it moved on from utilizing these medieval or "Dark Ages" tactics? It seems to be a religion that is evolving backward...becoming darker rather than enlightened. It's transforming out of a "peaceful" religion into a violent, hate-filled, xenophobic religion.

So why doesn't anyone in the Islamic world point out this paradox and stop this madness? Could it be because, deep down, this is reality of the Koran? Kill all non-believers, scare your own believers into toeing the line or else...

The more these clerics yell for an innocent's man blood, the more I'm reminded of the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Abdul Rahman has been freed, but let's continue to pray for his safety. Let's continue to keep our brothers and sisters in Christ in that turbulent area of the world in our prayers.