[guest post by Dana]

I was saddened to read that Mary Katharine Ham’s husband, Jake Brewer, passed away yesterday as a result of a cycling accident during the Ride to Conquer Cancer fundraiser. Brewer was only 34 years old. Along with Ham, he leaves behind a daughter and another little one on the way.

In a tender and eloquent statement posted on her Instagram page, Ham expressed her deep love for her husband:

We lost our Jake yesterday, and I lost part of my heart and the father of my sweet babies. I don’t have to tell most of you how wonderful he was. It was self-evident. His life was his testimony, and it was powerful and tender and fierce, with an ever-present twinkle in the eye. I will miss him forever, even more than I can know right now. No arms can be her father’s, but my daughter is surrounded by her very favorite people and all the hugs she could imagine. This will change us, but with prayer and love and the strength that is their companion, we can hope our heartache is not in vain– that it will change us and the world in beautiful ways, just as he did. If that sounds too optimistic at this time, it’s because it is. But there was no thought too optimistic for Jake, so take it and run with it. I will strive and pray not to feel I was cheated of many years with him, but cherish the gift of the years I had. In a life where nothing is guaranteed, Jake made the absolute, ever-lovin’ most of his time with all of us. This is a family picture we took a couple weeks ago. It was taken because Jake, as always, was ready with a camera and his immense talent. All four members of our little, growing family are in it. I can never be without him because these babies are half him. They are made of some of the strongest, kindest stuff God had to offer this world. Please pray that he can see us and we’ll all make him proud. God, I love him. Psalm 34:18, Philippians 1:3

Also, according to Hot Air, a GoFundMe project has been set up to establish a memorial education fund for Ham’s two children.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Ham and her young family as well as Brewer’s family. May God keep all those who are hurting from this loss enveloped in His loving care as He walks them through this valley of deep sorrow.

–Dana

UPDATE BY PATTERICO: What a horrible thing. Thanks to Dana for posting this.

UPDATED BY DANA: I am posting the Bible verses that Ham cites in her Instagram post. It is a hard and dark journey to find the way back from brokenhearted despair to renewed joy. With a tiny amount of faith and the passage of time, the light at the end of the black tunnel can be reached and joy can once again be known. God gives us His words to strengthen, encourage, guide and to be the salve to our wounds while we hold onto the lifeline that is Him:

Psalm 34:18 – The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Philippians 1:3 – I thank my God in all my remembrance of you…

[guest post by Dana]

With Germany committed to taking in 800,000 Syrian refugees alone this year, and Europe experiencing a massive influx of immigrants, is it any surprise that the secular and religious traditions of the West would come under attack?

This from a petition at Change. org:

Dear City council of Munich,

I am writing this letter to bring to your attention something that I and many Muslims believe is unfair and requires attention.

I would like to inform you that the Oktoberfest is an Intolerant and Anti-Islamic event. We tried to ignore the event, but there too many Un-Islamic acts done at the Oktoberfest. Such as alcohol consumption, public nudity etc.

We understand that the Oktoberfest is a yearly German tradition, but we, Muslims, can not tolerate this Un-Islamic event, because it offends us and all Muslims on the earth.

We are requesting the immediate cancellation of the upcoming Oktoberfest event.

We also believe that the Oktoberfest might also offend all the Muslim refugees coming from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan. The cancellation of the Oktoberfest event will help refugees not to forget their Islamic history. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Morad Almuradi

Notice the call-to-action buzz words: unfair, Intolerant, Anti-Islamic, Un-Islamic, can not (sic) tolerate, offends.

While the petition was closed this week, it is certainly not the first, nor the last time efforts will be made to re-make Europe. However, with the massive influx of Muslim refugees and Europe struggling to contain the flow, those changes will likely come sooner rather than later.

–Dana

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