Saturday, September 20, 2008

A Glimpse Inside Iran

There is More to this Land than We See on the News

Last night we had the opportunity to hear the man who produced the award winning documentary: A Cry from Iran, Joseph Hovsepian. The documentary tells the story of his father, Haik Hovsepian, who died as a Christian martyr in modern day Iran.

Persia [Iran] has always figured prominently in history. The prophet Daniel lived out his life there. There is a historic tomb of Daniel there today. Cyrus, the Persian ruler mentioned in Isaiah, rebuilt the temple. Ezra and Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem from Persia to rebuild the city and its walls.

Queen Esther thwarted the vile plans of Haman the prime minister for the extermination of the Jews in Persia.

The Magi probably came from Persia to Bethlehem, having studied the texts of Daniel.

In the face of incredible persecution, a Christian community exists today in Iran. Haik Hovsepian's story is one of divine love and forgiveness in this land. It is so easy to forget the wonderful people who live in Iran. The news shows us the fearful state of its leadership but Iranians are not well represented by the clerics who rule them. My Mother taught physics labs at the local college after she "unretired" herself. She fondly remembered a young Iranian she had in class. In 1979 she befriended this young man who was suddenly in a land at war with his homeland.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad does not represent the true nature of the Iranian people at all.

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