This is what is historically known and recorded by multiple historians and writers of the day: There was a Jew named Jesus who claimed to be the Son of God (and by the claim being God Himself) and had a following of people. Eventually He was executed because of this claim of being God (blasphemy by Jewish law) and for being a trouble maker by Roman law. He died, confirmed by the strict procedures of Roman crucifixion. He was placed in a tomb guarded by both Roman and Jewish guards, three days later His tomb was empty, causing a widespread commotion in Jerusalem over his disappearance.

These facts are easily confirmed. What is also confirmed is that everyone who had a deeply vested interest in finding His body used every means necessary to find the body, including questioning and torturing those who followed Jesus. Few recanted their belief He was God, especially the many who physically saw and spoke to the resurrected Christ.

In 24 hours, I’ve read dozens of Twitter tweets, Facebook updates and blog posts about the celebration Easter is in the lives of individuals. Rightfully so, although every day is in fact Easter for the believer because nothing will ever change the historical fact that Jesus received the wrath of a Holy God – punishment intended for the sinner – and was raised from the dead, confirming God’s satisfaction with the substitutionary sacrifice. What’s left is for the individual to believe by faith that Jesus came to this world to accomplish this stated purpose.

Unfortunately Easter is also a day of lamentation because more than 2/3 of the world’s population – 4 billion-plus people – do not call Jesus Lord or know that His death and resurrection are the only sufficient means to reconcile them to God. Sadly, many of that four billion have never even heard the name of Jesus Christ. They are trapped in the endless spiritual search to generate some kind of righteousness to make them acceptable to whatever their idea of god is. This reveals the difference between religion and Christianity. Religion is a way for man to create a means for reaching God. Christianity is based solely on God reaching down to man.

It may seem subtle but there is a massive difference  between the two. Religion is easily manipulated to justify the ends of man. In religion there is no objective measure of righteousness, man becomes the center of establishing the standard and ultimately it is often left to the one who most vehemently asserts his beliefs as to whose perspective is “correct” (see long history of holy wars as evidence). Which religion, then, is right? Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Catholicism, Protestantism? Answer: none.

Christianity, however, is uniquely and exclusively set over and against these in that God sets the objective measure, indicates that every human is in the same boat (“all have sinned“), and that there are “none righteous” and “none seek after God.” Therefore every human stands on equally poor footing. Into this desperate situation God sent Jesus to bear His justified wrath. Jesus was a willing and perfect object upon which God’s punishment could be poured. The resurrection is evidence that His sacrifice was acceptable. Crying out in faith to Him for salvation is recognizing our need for something beyond ourselves to save us. This is Good News!

But it is only Good News if people hear it. Right now there are more than 5,000 unengaged people groups around the world, most of them in a swath of land extending across north Africa, the Middle East, central and eastern Asia and India. This means there are a significant number of Muslims, Hindus, atheists and Buddhists who either have no understanding of Jesus or a very skewed understanding of who He is, what He’s done and what He offers in terms of spiritual forgiveness and freedom.

We who have been granted forgiveness and salvation must remember every day the extraordinary grace extended to us through Christ, but we can’t linger in our celebration lest it become self-centered. We must remember the billions of people who have not yet enjoyed His grace, lament the staggering numbers who still stand squarely in the cross-hairs of God’s judgment and GO to them with the Good News of what the resurrection means for them.

Minarets rise above Istanbul’s cityscape like rockets poised for a moon launch. I scanned the horizon from the narrow observation deck of Galata Tower and saw dozens of the more than 2,700 active mosques scattered across the city of more than 13 million people. I wondered where the one was that is located near the guest house where I stayed. Just the day before the 5 am call to prayer jolted me from my sleep with the equivalent shock someone might experience from sticking their finger into a 220v electrical outlet. I went from sweet dreams to 500 heart beats per second before I could open my eyes. (Interesting how by week’s end I slept right through it.)

Istanbul boasts an incredible history with a recent archeological find dating back to around 6700 BC. It’s most notable history probably began with Constantine’s successful capture of the city from the Byzantines, renaming it Constantinopolis, making it the eastern capital of the Roman Empire. However, there was a dramatic shift when Sultan Mehmed II spent 53 days securing the city for the Ottomans and dramatically changed Constantinople into a Muslim city. It has remained so for more than 600 years.

I confess to a general ignorance about Istanbul prior to my trip, like I did not know it is literally where west becomes east and east becomes west. Europe ends at the Bosphorus, a water passage that divides Istanbul. Asia begins just a short distance on the other side.

I knew Istanbul was a cosmopolitan city where orthodox Islam gives way to a more secularized religion. There are many devout Muslims in Istanbul, but there is a disproportionately larger number who seem to greet the call to prayer with staggering indifference. However, orthodoxy seems on the rise with the increased migration of people from the more conservative interior of the country. The ruling party is conservative – every member of the ruling party has wives who cover according to Islamic law – reflecting the majority opinion of Turkey’s population outside of Istanbul.

No trip to Turkey would be complete without a reverential visit to the Blue Mosque. My colleague and I shook off a rug salesman and wandered in around 11:30, shortly before noon prayers (which didn’t begin until 12:30). We sat respectfully observing the smattering of adherents arriving early. I found it interesting that I couldn’t find a bathing area which is certainly part of the purification process for Muslims. (It may have been there, I just never saw it). Also interesting that Muslim woman can visit the mosque as visitors but are unwelcome for prayers.

If one makes it to the Blue Mosque it is a couple hundred yards to the Aya Sofia, a Byzantine cathedral turned into a mosque after the Ottomans conquered the area. The amazing thing to consider is how tall that dome is and how old the building is (originally build in 360 AD). Both of these locations are just a stop or two from the Grand Bazaar, opened in the 1400 as a way for the Sultan to stimulate the economy after war scattered the masses and there was great need to reestablish the city.

Istanbul is worth a visit, just be prepared for a 5 AM wake-up call from the Imam at the local mosque.

(I’ve posted several pictures on my Flickr page – www.travelswithme.com)

Having just returned from Beirut, Lebanon, the Shiite Muslim majority is on my mind. Shiites make up about 15 percent of all Muslims but are a majority in countries like Iran. (Sunnis are by far the majority worldwide). The most important ten days of the year for Shiite Muslims starts December 17th. Ashura is a time when Shiites all over the world remember the brutal death of one of their leaders in 680 AD. They’ll be meeting together every day and night. As Christ followers, let’s fast and pray for Shiites Dec. 17-26. God will hear our collective voice crying out to Him for Shiites.

Just Five years ago, mission workers said there weren’t any Shiite believers in their areas. Three years ago there was a handful of Shiites following Christ, and now there are many, many Shiites following Him Ashura is a most holy 10 day observance for Shiites (195 million) around the world.  It’s a period of 10 days of remembrance of their founder, Imam Hussein (Muhammad’s grandson), who was killed in the battle of Karbala in 680 AD.  Shiites go into deep mourning and sometime flagellate themselves in their grief.  While we celebrate this joyful time of God’s great gift to us through His Son, millions of Shiites will be mourning the death of Hussein.

Here’s how you can pray:

17th-Shiites are a people who fear God, but many of them fear evil spirits. Today pray that many Shiites will know the Son and will experience His power over the spirit world.

18th-Shiites place great importance on dreams and visions.  Ask the Father to give them dreams and visions that will help them follow the Son.

19th-On this 3rd day of Ashura, pray that when Shiites see the Son in a dream or vision, that they will be eager and bold to tell others about Him.

20th-Today pray that followers of the Son among Shiites will have spiritual wisdom and understanding. Ask that they will hear God’s voice and be prepared to do whatever He tells them, even if it means being, doing, or saying the uncomfortable or impossible.  Ask God to move believers – all of us – out of our comfort zones to reach more Shiites.

21st–Ask God to grow followers of the Son into men, women and children of faith who will live and share truth among Shiites in ways the Shiites can receive, despite the cost to them as His followers.

22nd–Pray that Shiites men will be devout and respected men of God who will lead their entire households and communities to fear God and to follow the Son.

23rd–Pray today that Shiites households will gather together to hear God’s Word and that they will hear, understand and tell the story of the Son in their homes and throughout their communities.

24th–Ask that Shiites religious leaders will hear the truth of the Word and will adhere to the teachings of the Son as their Supreme Leader and that Shiites communities will give their allegiance completely to the Son to emulate Him and follow His teaching.

25th-Whether through His spoken or written Word, through followers of the Son, or through a dream or miraculous healing, pray that Shiites will encounter the Son and follow Him.

26th-Shiites believe God forgives sins and answers prayers more readily on this day.  Please pray this prayer for Shiites and their communities:

Dear Father, You are the One who sent down Your Son to this blood stained earth to form a New Kingdom that is not of this world. We humbly ask You to reveal your Son to Shiites communities all over the world. We ask You to change Shiite’s mourning into dancing. Lead them from this season of great grief to passionately celebrate Your salvation.  All for Your Glory!

Here are some resources:

Download a ten-day prayer guide in five languages to print and share: http://www.shbride.blogspot.com/

Download a video and slideshow of Ashura:

http://www.cryoutnow.org/videogallery/index.html

Download stories of what God is doing among Shiites:

http://25minutes.org/