Spanish is the main language in Colombia. Coconut is a common ingredient in Colombian food. Try this Spanish tongue twister!
Como como poco coco, poco coco compro.
The tongue twister means, “Because I eat little coconut, I buy little coconut.”
Note: All the o’s and c’s are pronounced like the o’s and c’s in the English word “cocoa.” Cocoa comes from Colombia, too!
Tingo, Tingo, Tango
Players stand in a circle. One player is “it.” The player who is “it” hides his or her eyes while standing some distance from the circle and repeats, “Tingo, tingo, tingo, tingo.” As “it” continues to say, “Tingo,” the other children pass a small object around the circle from hand to hand.
The player who is “it” switches and calls out, “Tango!” ; the player caught with the object in hand has to pay a penalty. The player holding the object must perform a task suggested by “it.” For example, he or she might be asked to sing a song, crow like a rooster, recite a Bible verse, or hop around the circle on one foot. The player who paid the penalty becomes “it” for the next game.
Pastor Robert is the leader of a church in Pakistan. He and his wife have five children. Their church has about 80 members. Some of the members used to be Muslims. Muslims in Pakistan who decide to follow Jesus often face serious persecution.
One day, Pastor Robert found a handwritten letter in his mailbox. “Mr. Robert,” the letter said, “we are watching you.” The letter was written by radical Muslims. It went on to warn the pastor that he must stop leading Muslims to Christ. If he did not, the radicals promised that they would hurt “all your family members, smallest and eldest.”
What would Pastor Robert do?
“I ignored the letter,” he said.
What if you wanted to read a Bible but none of the Bibles in the world were written in English? Pakistan has more than 60 languages. Not even half the languages have Bibles. The official language of Pakistan is Urdu. Unlike English, Urdu is written from right to left instead of left to right. Christians take Urdu Bible storybooks to people in Pakistan. Pray that all the people in Pakistan will learn about Jesus. Ask God to send more translators to spread His word to people who do not have Bibles in their languages.
How to Say Some Urdu Words
(Pronunciations are approximate.)
Praise the Lord: Hoo-DAH-wahnd kee tah-REEF ho
Please: meh-hehr-BAH-nee
Thank you: shoo-kree-yuh
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Muslim Extremist Views
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Christian Views
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| Becoming a martyr | Muslim extremists believe that the highest goal is to die while defending Islam and while helping the progress of their religion. | A Christian martyr chooses to suffer death rather than to deny Christ and His work. Christian martyrs die while loving others, including enemies. (See John 15:3 and 1 John 3:16.) |
| Rewards of martyrdom | Muslims believe martyrs go to heaven where they enjoy pleasures like people enjoy on earth (Quran 2:154). Otherwise, Muslims believe they can earn their way to heaven by doing enough good deeds. But no one knows how many are “enough.” | Christians believe that people are saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ, whether they are martyrs or not. They will not need earthly pleasures in heaven; they will no longer be hungry and thirsty (Revelation 7:16). Martyrs for Christ will receive honor in heaven (Revelation 2,3). |
| Seeking martyrdom | Some Muslims say that Islam forbids suicide. Muslim extremist “suicide bombers” seek to die for their cause and for their own rewards in heaven. | True Christian martyrs do not seek death for their own honor. They accept death when it is required to glorify God. (See John 21:1). |
| Love | “You love life; we love death.”—al Qaida terrorist and other Muslim extremists. | “Christians do not love death. They love Christ. If He bids them come and die; they count it an honor to suffer and die for the sake of the name. (Acts 5:41).”—John Piper |
| (Sources include: Spirit of Martyrdom Ministries) | ||
