Today is the start of the Muslim holy month of fasting called Ramadan. As I begin my annual time of prayer for the Muslim world, I was reflecting on how we as Christians, especially in Europe and North America, squander our faith opportunities. For example, there are way more people who call themselves Christian in Europe than Muslims but far more Muslims attend Friday prayers at mosques than Christians attend church on Sunday. There are huge mosques being built in Europe (or in the planning stages to be built), mosques that in some European cities will rival major cathedral sizes. Even “non-practicing” Muslims will defend “being Muslim” to their death. Would that be true of “non practicing” Christians in Europe? In North America? We are like the frog in the water that is slowly heating up. One day we are going to wake up and realize that the pot has begun to boil in favor of Sharia law (the stated goal of Islam for all nations). Maybe we who call ourselves Christians (whether that is a major identity or not) should use the next 30 days to look at the world situation. Islam is on the move with money and education for the young, with health care and provisions in many desperate places, in ways that put many of us Christians to shame. Islam is even ready to convert everyone in the world by the sword if need be (see latest Osama bin Laden video) while too many of us Christians worry about “offending” someone. If you were a betting person, which side would you bet on winning in the long run? I would bet on Islam’s ultimate success–except for one thing: Jesus Christ, God’s Son and Lord of the Universe; Jesus who has promised that the gates of Hell will never prevail against his Church. Let us as Christians awaken to Jesus’ call to live as salt and light so that during this time of Ramadan, many Muslims might take the next step from knowing about God to knowing the God who loves them in Jesus.