In his book, Islam, Muhammad and Koran, Dr. Labib Mikhail, an Egyptian who moved to United States in 1973, notes: ‘”The Koran commands Muslims to fight non-Muslims until they exterminate all religions so that Islam will be world’s only religion.’” In Koran, Surat Al-Baqarah 2:193 says, ‘”And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah) and (all and every kind of) worship is for Allah (alone). But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against As-Zatimun (the polytheists and wrongdoers).”’ To a devout Muslim, a polytheist is a Christian, who believes that God is three persons in one.

While we are exploring this topic, we must not overlook persecution of Pentecostal congregations in many European countries. France has many Catholics and Protestants, but France, as well as Germany and other European nations, is a secular society. France’s Revolution in 18th century forced religion of Enlightenment on country and trivialized Christianity. Today, if you go to a secular European country to start a Pentecostal mission, you won’t find religious tolerance for Pentecostal faith. Most likely you will be harassed and badgered by secularists to comply with norm or you will become discouraged and probably leave country on your own.

America’s Constitution protects all religions throughout our Nation, even those that are different from mine. This is a great liberty that many God-fearing Americans take for granted and ignore through indifference. I’m concerned, and I know that you are too. That’s why I’m honored to network with you through e-mail for encouragement and prayer for America. Please pray for Body of Christ around world also. Will you continue your support of religious assembly by supporting a church or synagogue of your choice? Remember this, if you don’t exercise your right to worship, you may lose it. Someone might tell you someday by authority of law how or what to worship. May this never happen in America.

3. Personal witness.

We need to practice constant vigilance to bear witness to our beliefs. We must repeatedly re-assess ourselves to ensure that we have not inadvertently bought into bias and prejudice that colors so much human thought. We cannot stand silent while others talk or joke about ethnicity, or religion, or sexual preferences. The need to get ahead does not require sacrifice of all that we hold dear -- winner of rat race is, after all, a rat. We must consider our families and ensure that our children are fully exposed to potential and worth of every individual, no matter how different from us they may appear. Our expectations and demands of coworkers and subordinates needs to be fair and consistent, regardless or race, gender, or cultural differences. We can stand up and speak out, letting all know that nothing less than equal opportunity and fair evaluation will be tolerated in our personal sphere. We will continue to look for quality of character, knowing that little else matters.

As each generation ages, qualities it represented in youth tend to dissipate. With addition of multiple personal and occupational responsibilities and acquisition of assets and at least a degree of wealth, earthquake of social revolution is no longer a promise but a threat. We jealously guard what we have worked so hard to obtain. We become a force for conservancy rather than a force for change.

The baby boom generation has potential to shatter that familiar pattern. Born on cusp of most horrifying war world has ever seen, we continue to represent an opportunity for world to evolve, for mankind to rise above baseness of his bestial nature and to internalize human capacity for true civilization. As we enter autumn of our lives, we are presented with opportunity to finally, and lastingly, make a difference. It is up to us to stand together now, as many years ago we stood in streets of Chicago, Washington, and Birmingham, for rights and liberties of all.