paravanes:meditations

Lord, the horrible deaths of the Egyptian Coptic martyrs trouble me. But this I believe: In a way unknown to those of us who are left behind, you comforted their minds, bodies, and spirits in those final moments. Your revealed presence wiped fear and terror from their hearts. As their spirits left their broken bodies, You joyfully and proudly welcomed them into your uninterruptible presence. They now live in comfort, joy, and praise. They have no regrets for their sacrifice. Their pains are eternally forgotten. Their testimony and witness will continue through endless ages, world without end. Your precious children are never forgotten or abandoned, never absent from your care, never beyond the reach of your power. Amen.

Where I live, it is Sunday morning, around 11am EST. Imagine this. It's Sunday morning. You go to church. Your neighbors see you and your family (or maybe just you) leave home for your regular, weekly trek to Sunday morning worship service in a building that looks like a traditional church. You may have even been seen going to a midweek Bible class or prayer meeting. What happens during the following week changes your life forever. Your job disappears. You no longer own your business. Your professional or trade license is taken away and voided. Your children are no longer safely able to attend their school. Perhaps state officials even come to your home to remove your children from your legal custody. Your bank or investment accounts have been frozen. Property you own has been seized by the state.  You cannot use your passport to travel. You have been labeled a criminal. What is your offense? You have affirmed in your life and actions that "there is no God ...