By Mike Leno

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul

“Do you smoke?” asked my new-found friend.

“No,” I said wondering where the conversation was headed.

“Do you drink?”

“No.”

“What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a pastor; I preach at a church.”

Grinning, he gestured toward me and then toward himself and a younger man, his cousin. “You would make a good Muslim; better than us!”

The three of us continued walking down one of the many busy streets in the old section of Istanbul, making lifestyle comparisons along the way. On our way across a bridge we ducked into a small shop, sat on large floor cushions and sipped Coke and Sprite while we talked. The older one took out his cell phone and took my picture, promising that he would look me up if he ever came to the United States. Then he got up, made selections on the juke box and shared with me his enthusiasm for Russian and American rock bands.

It was September of 2004. I had traveled to Turkey with a group from College Place, Washington to tour the sites of the seven churches of Revelation. After getting settled in our first hotel, I had some free time. Feeling adventurous and not willing to waste a perfectly wonderful evening in one of the world’s most exotic cities, I had walked in the direction of one of the most famous landmarks, the Blue Mosque. As I approached the large domed edifice with tall minarets, I fell in step with a couple of young men. The older one spoke English quite well; the younger one said only a few words. They invited me to join them as they attended a special service. A festival was going on and large crowds of people were gathered both inside and outside the Mosque. I was glad for the invitation because rather than enter through the tourist entrance in the back, with my new Moslem friends I was allowed through the front door.

By Mike Leno

Who would you nominate as the worst mother in the Bible? Someone suggested to me that the prostitute mother who agreed to have Solomon cut a child in half was the worst. And I have to admit, that is a very good nomination. I’m somewhat tempted to put Hannah, mother of Samuel, on the list. After all, what kind of mother abandons her child at the temple soon after being weaned and allows him to be raised by an old priest who can’t even control his own children? But Hannah’s actions, however suspect by modern standards, were a bit more understandable given the circumstances and culture of the time.

My first real nomination for worst mother is Hephzibah, wife of Hezekiah and mother of Manasseh. The reason for her nomination has to do with the actions of her son who was probably the worst king in Israel’s history. He became king at 12 years old so I suspect his mother had something to do with his character and behavior while he was king. 2 Kings 21:16 says, “Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end—besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the Lord.”