Three Cups of Tea

I just finished reading (with my ears) the audio book, Three Cups of Tea about Greg Mortenson's mission to build schools in Pakistan for Muslim girls.

Without commentating on the whole book which is totally unnecessary, I will mention 3 things that I gleaned from this true story.

1.  Any one person can do their part in changing the world.  Mortenson was a failure of a mountain climber (in his words) and had no earthly possessions.  Living in his car, he was able to get the funding he needed to build one school and then there was no stopping the great work he was doing and continues to do.

2.  Muslims, apparently, are not all terrorist/bomber/airplanes-into-buildings psychopaths.  Maybe you already knew this, but I was not convinced.  Now, I'm not saying that Islam is a "peace-loving religion" as some p.c. types like to say.  But, I will say that I was wholly impressed by how these Pakistani villages embraced an American who wanted to build schools FOR GIRLS.  In order for him to be able to do this, he had to have the approval of the communities he was serving.  And he got it.  Not only do they accept his schools, but they deeply love him (even though he is an infidel) and protected him...even willing to lay down their own lives.

My question to you...because I am totally ignorant in this area...is:  If these uneducated villages and people, once educated, begin to read through their own Koran and read the commands to kill the infidels, will they then become the extremists they currently condemn?  Why are so many Muslims murderers and terrorists, and then you have these, as mentioned in the book, that embrace the infidel?  Is it like a carnal "Christian" (who is not really a Christian at all) versus a Christian walking with the Lord?  Or a Catholic who is Catholic by family tradition only versus a true Jesus-following, born again Catholic?  The problem with these comparisons is that none of them seek to destroy those who are unlike them.
This story has enlightened me to the idea that not all Muslims I encounter want to kill me.  Yes, I think that sometimes.

3.  The idea that change will come through education and growing children in truth and non-brainwashing.  We can't drop a bunch of bombs and get the expected immediate result of peace and tranquility.  It must be grown.  And that takes time.  I am doing that in my own home for my own country.  I must raise the next generation of truth-lovers and patriots.  That is how we will change the tyrannical direction of this country.  So, of course, it makes sense that that is how things can change in terrorist nations.



Do I recommend this book?  Yes. ...unless there is another like it out there that gives glory to God, as He is never mentioned in this book.  However, that being said, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." (James 1:7)  There are many times I thought, "There is no way this guy could be as successful as he is in such dangerous territory without the blessing, protection, and provision of God."