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Showing posts from December, 2019

Sexual Abuse in Pakistani Madrassas

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Islamic Madrassas exist throughout the world for the purpose of teaching Islamic theology and Qur'an memorization.  For many Muslim parents, these Islamic schools are thought to be the safest place for their children.  A place of refuge where they can learn their faith.  Unfortunately, for many children in Pakistan, they are becoming a place of dread and fear.  Over the years, there have been numerous reports of children being sexually abused by Islamic clerics in Madrassas throughout the country of Pakistan.  In Pakistani culture, religious clerics possess a significant amount of power and prestige in their country.  In many cases, when allegations of religious abuse occur, the clerics simply pay off the victims family and they are then "forgiven."  Cases of sexual abuse rarely make it to the courtroom.   Child Rape Victim and his alleged Rapist. Over the past 10 years, there have been 359 recorded complaints of sexual abuse in the Pakistani Madrassas.  Unfortuna

Jesus and the Candy Cane

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To many people in the world, the Candy Cane is just a sugary Christmas treat.  To others, it also serves as a holiday decoration, but the truth is, it's much more than that.  The Candy Cane is a powerful symbol of our Lord, and ever aspect of the Candy Cane symbolizes who our Lord is, and what He did for us.  The Candy Cane is in the shape of a Shepherd's Staff. Jesus is our Shepherd, and we are his Flock.  A sheep follows his shepherd, knows his voice, and trusts him.  The sheep follow no other shepherd but their own.  In the same way we belong to Jesus, and we follow only Him. (John 10:11, Psalm 23:1, & Isaiah 40:11). Turned over, the Candy Cane becomes a J, the first letter of the name of Jesus.  It is made of hard candy to remind us that Christ is the "rock" of our salvation.   The Wide Red Stripes of the Candy Cane represent the blood that Jesus shed on the cross for each of us, so that we may have Eternal Life through Him.  He restores us and cleans us