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Future missionaries aren't deterred either, reports The New York Times. "I've talked to several students since we've heard this news, and it really has not changed their desire to go overseas as missionaries," Becky Scott, spokeswoman for Penner's alma mater, Moody Bible Institute, said. "If anything, they realize that the task is all that more important, to do what they're called to do. And any student who is here training as a missionary knows that there are risks involved with that. They receive some training in what to do in risky situations. But then it's a matter of just trusting in the Lord and trusting his will for their lives."

 "If they want to kill us all, we are ready to die," says Sami Dagher, director of the Unity Center and head of the Christian and Missionary Alliance churches in Lebanon. "But we are not going to close either the clinic or the church."

He told The Daily Star that he didn't know why anyone would even suggest closing the clinic (as many have). "We provide medical and educational services to a large number of people in addition to a range of spiritual services. Let them come to us and say what mistake we have made. We do not force anyone to come here. As for me, this is my city and I am ready to wash their (citizens') feet."

And that's the crucial point that Penner's critics don't understand, an unnamed friend of the missionary told The Daily Star: "Since Arabs are not taking care of them, they can't understand why Americans would."

James Ossuary:

• Owner of ossuary relieved by cracks | Box said to have held Jesus' brother's bones damaged in shipping (The National Post, Canada)
  
  
• Scholars debate small box's reference to Jesus | Authenticity of inscription on ossuary is questioned (The Baltimore Sun)
  
  
• How 'ugliest' box hit the limelight | Ossuary may have contained bones of Jesus' brother (Toronto Star)
  
  
• Lexington man helps explain James Box | Ossuary may be link to Jesus Christ (Lexington [Ky.] Herald-Leader)
  
  
• French scholar insists he's being "very cautious" in identifying the purported burial box of Jesus' brother (Associated Press)
  
  
• Experts disagree about authenticity of ossuary | Toronto attracts international academics for hot debate on origin of limestone box (The Globe and Mail, Toronto)
  
  
• Expert skeptical about ossuary | 'Bad feeling' about Israeli artifact (Toronto Star)

AIDS:

• On the 7th day, HIV | Baptist preacher uses Sunday services to educate his congregation about the scourge of the AIDS-causing virus in an innovative way: by immediately providing tests for it (The Buffalo News)
  
  
• Also: Minister takes HIV test at church (Associated Press)
  
  
• Earlier: Pastor bringing HIV testing into the pews (The Buffalo News)
  
  
• Catholics admit persecution of AIDS victims | Caritas Internationalis, an umbrella organization representing around 150 Catholic relief agencies worldwide, has put itself at odds with senior figures in the Catholic hierarchy by issuing a statement of "regret" (The London Independent)

Interfaith Thanksgiving:

• Sharing gratitude among many faiths | The turkey is ready. And then what? Do you pray? Do you worry about the wide variety of beliefs and nonbeliefs that may be represented around the table? (The New York Times)
  
  
• Giving thanks in a variety of ways | How do people express their thanks at Thanksgiving—besides eating turkey and pie? (The New York Times)

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November (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46