tards!

that's copeland in the background

vengeance!

i have no idea

what's that burning smell?

Compassion is hard because it requires the inner disposition to go with others to the place where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely and broken.
But this is not our spontaneous response to suffering.
What we desire most is to do away with suffering by fleeing from it or finding a quick cure for it.
As busy, active, relevant ministers, we want to earn our bread by making a real contribution.

This means first and foremost doing something to show that our presence makes a difference.
And so we ignore our greatest gift, which is our ability to enter into solidarity with those who suffer.

Those who can sit in silence with their fellowman, not knowing what to say but knowing that they should be there, can bring new life in a dying heart.
Those who are not afraid to hold a hand in gratitude, to shed tears in grief and to let a sigh of distress arise straight from the heart can break through paralyzing boundaries and witness the birth of a new fellowship, the fellowship of the broken."

- Henri Nouwen

The culture is soaked in blood.

Revenge is the status quo, rather than the exception.

And in the center - two wives declare forgiveness to those who have taken their husbands' lives.

Two widows hold to grace, and hold their now fatherless children.

Three men, Necati Ayden, Tilman Geske, and Ugur Yuksel were tortured and murdered in Malataya, Turkey. A group of young men had approached these three, seeking answers about Christianity. A pair of them even attended an Easter service a few weeks prior. They met under the pretense of learning more about the Bible. After Necati read a passage of Scripture, they bound the three men hand and foot, beginning a three hour ritual of torture.

Imagine every horror that could be done to a person by another with a knife... and a heart twisted by hate.

Every portion of the human form than can be opened or removed.

The act was planned well in advance. Guns, knives, ropes, and towels... they knew there would be a lot of blood. Stab wounds... one hundred fifty-six for one man... ninety-nine for the second... too many for even the coroner to count for the third.

This brutality elicits a response of the soul. An answer to these actions must come. We read about such things and a rush of conviction and question floods us. We must do something. We must resolve our heart's resonance to it.

Simply throwing money at this need is inadequate and cowardly. I couldn't rest with simply doing my meager part. I cannot worship the God who gave those three men strength to endure to the end when it costs me nothing. I cannot tell their widows my heart is with them by means of only my pocket.

I want them to see that we are with them.

I want them to know that although we will likely never meet, that we love them.

They are family, and they are not alone.

In a blood for blood culture, two women who have lost so much insist upon forgiveness. We can offer no less. So this message is for all who are a part of this story. For two women embracing the light in the center of darkness. We love you. For five children, fatherless... but never Fatherless. We love you. For seven young Muslims. We love you.

Seni Seviyoruz.

Craig and Fikret

Check them out HERE.

One of the best people on earth, with a heart as big as Everest, and a man I call my brother- Mike has sent us our first picture wearing a shirt! His beard is truly mighty.

In other news of the shirt variety- I've added a size chart button over on the right, so as to better facilitate the ladies. With all the shirts in round 1 being on one size scale, sometimes it's best for the gals to order one size down, depending on desired fit, etc.
So! Consult the chart beforehand, gals. Any other questions, feel free to contact me.
UPDATE-
We've only got ONE more of the "Heart" design in Large.

~Peace and grace~