Deception and Burrito Bowls

So this morning I found out that one of my favorite customers at work was arrested Wednesday for terrorism. He is 20 years old and moved here from Saudi Arabia in 2008 to get a degree in chemical engineering. Red flag? There are several Middle Eastern guys that come in to my workplace every day. They are my favorite customers because they're always nice, and most of them order the same thing...either a veggie bowl and a small coke...or a chicken bowl and a small coke, so its easy to get them through the line quickly. They always come in around the same time and sit together. I've learned most of their faces, and memorized most of their orders. I haven't judged or stereotyped any of them (except for their obviously similar meal choices), and actually look forward to them coming in every day. When I heard that one of our regulars was arrested, I was shocked. After work when I saw his picture online, I was even more shocked to see which one he was. He was always kind. I never would have singled him out as a terrorist. They found a lot of things in his apartment, including chemicals for bombs, emails with bomb targets, and a map of George Bush's house. The most shocking to me was a journal entry he had written in his notebook. It read:

“I excelled in my studies in high school in order to take advantage of an opportunity for a scholarship to America...And now after mastering the English language, learning how to build explosives, and continuous planning to target the infidel Americans, it is time for Jihad. I put my trust in God, for he is the best Master and Authority.”

This is scary stuff. My first instinct is to say, "Why would someone think that their god would want them to kill people like this?" ....I am studying the Old Testament in school right now, and I can't help but think about all of God's commandments to wipe out  whole cities. Did people then think that the Israelites were this crazy? Killing people for God? Then I think about how America has gone to war to "eliminate the enemy". Now I know that this guy is deeply mislead and does not know the truth, but stuff like this does not make it easier to explain God's actions in the Old Testament to others, or the ways of the Law of Moses, and it makes present day war difficult to justify. What is righteous war? Is it self defense? Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari is not defending himself or the Islamic faith. He is attacking to destroy any belief besides his own. Has he been promised a reward for killing others? Was he willing to kill himself for this cause? It is all he has ever known. It is what he believes is righteous? He believes that his god is one and only and he puts his trust in a false god and false religion that teaches him to hate what is different. Are all Muslims this way? No. What put him in this place? His family? What if I had been born into this? Would I support this?

I am blessed to know what I know. I am blessed to be safe from this kind of persecution. I will only pray for this guy. Only God can save him now.

Please take the time to read this short article about this guy's arrest:
http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2011-02-24/lubbock-resident-arrested-terrorism-charges

AND i searched for his blog and found it. It took me about 10 minutes to read it. About half of it is in English. I'll paste an entry below, but if you are interested in reading more, here is the link:

http://fromfaraway90.blogspot.com/

TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2009

I met my language partner Sarah Rice Stender and she was nice and pretty, so I like her so much. Me and my friend Adbullrahman Alhamdi were with her today for out first meeting with her and she asked us to discuss about a topic, yet she likes to talk about religioun so we did. I think she has a good point about Islam and she is knowing better about this great faith and religioun.

I am reading this day a lot of my prophet mohammed ( peace be to upon him ) to build my knowledge about my religioun and about him...

I am falling in love of her.....

She is goregeous that I cann't forget her just right away...

I am asking Allah the great to covert her to Islam and marry me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y8Jh1Ltc6U Here's a vid!


Rom 16:17-18 "WATCH OUT (MARK THEM) for people who cause Divisions and Upset People’s Faith by TEACHING THINGS CONTRARY to (TO THE DOCTRINE) what you have been taught.STAY AWAY from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own Personal Interests. By SMOOTH TALK and GLOWING WORDS THEY DECEIVE INNOCENT PEOPLE."