the Faces of Evil

What is the common factor between the Somali famine and the London riots? Lawlessness! Half of Somalia is under the violent “rule” of armed thugs who have no regard for human life. They are content to let the population die of starvation and even kill them if deemed convenient to their cause

The London riots only differ in the “sticks and stones” armament they had to advance their rampage. Again, there was no value placed on human life in the fires set and deliberate deaths that occurred. Both these tragic events demonstrate human evil that expresses itself when no rule of law exists, or can be easily flouted.

Make no mistake, without the rule of law, every city and community on earth would face the same anarchy. The problem is not poverty or disenfranchisement; that is simply an excuse for evil action. Corporate executives will defraud without conscience if they consider they can avoid prosecution.

Evil rooted in the human soul causes the violence and misery so much of the world endures. Since the murder of Abel, humankind has not found an “answer” to this dilemma. Spiritual deformity requires spiritual action, and only the provision for cleansing in Jesus Christ can reverse the slide to evil.

But as long as some in all corners of the earth reject the notion of final accountability, evil will continue to flourish. But it will continue to provoke God’s call to “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and our call: “Come, Lord Jesus.”

No Excuse

Another outdoor stage collapses. And as usual, it is “freak” weather that is to blame. For three to collapse in two years—Alberta in 2009, Ottawa last month, and Indiana yesterday—suggests freak weather is not so freaky!

Watching yesterday’s collapse on television, the twisting and buckling motion of the fall indicated insufficient diagonal bracing allowed the structure to fall. In addition, the huge roof structure provided a top heavy configuration that was potentially dangerous.

Furthermore, these structures are by their nature set up in exposed places to allow thousands of fans to congregate around them. Clearly, standards for their erection are inadequate, although engineers responsible for the design of these flimsy assemblies had the Alberta collapse to alert them.

Of course, the weather can be ferocious, as the recent tornado season stateside has shown. We cannot plan for the unexpected, but three events in two years are hardly unexpected. We can plan for events that are likely, more so those that are certain—death and taxes.

While most of us pay our taxes, I am totally at a loss why few prepare for death. We may be able to evade taxes, but death is inevitable. Why live with the fear of death when Jesus Christ has provided a dread free transition into eternity?

God so loved the world, he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. People around us die daily; we have no excuse to be unprepared for that event.

Ann: On John Stott

Bryan’s not up to this today—somewhat flat after a heavy week. So this is Ann, with my thoughts of the day. 

The passing of the venerable John Robert Walmsley Stott of London, a long time pastor to London’s All Soul’s Langham Place, England inspired anew my commitment to frugality and moderation!  Another evangelical Anglican man of God in my life—J. I. Packer, five years younger than our brother Stott—has similarly inspired me—he still types on a mechanical typewriter!

While always a frugal person, preferring to buy second-hand and hating waste (a direct product of growing up in WW2) I was newly inspired to simplify my life. Hence a garage sale is planned at our house for Saturday, August 20, 2011.

Whether I achieve that goal will much depend upon my husband’s willingness to humour this venture! And if his much appreciated humour doesn’t extend to that plan, then I will graciously concede, but it will go on the back burner for a while, I assure you. That decision is based on previous experience of his joy at the success of my garage sale endeavours. Added to experience is our long held commitment to travel “light.”

Among his achievements during a life-long commitment to his parish and the Christian community at large, Stott was uncompromising on the priority of Biblical revelation, and this very devotion to truth has left us with a wealth of books on the basic elements of Christianity, some of which are Bible commentaries.  These were nearly all written in his small cottage outfitted with oil lamps, where electricity was added in 2001. As well, all his royalties go to charities.

Thank you, Lord, for protecting and keeping this man of God true to you and to us, your people.

We All Worship Something

It seems there will be volatile markets around the world for a few days or weeks. Money can accomplish so much, but making it an idol can bring heartbreaking consequences. The following insight was published in our church bulletin yesterday. We can all probably benefit from it somewhere in our lives.

In the day-to-day trenches of adult life, there is actually no such thing as atheism. There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship. And an outstanding reason for choosing some sort of God . . . is that pretty much anything else you worship will eat you alive.

If you worship money and things—if they are where you tap real meaning in life—then you will never have enough. . . . It’s the truth. Worship your own body and beauty and sexual allure and you will always feel ugly, and when time and age start showing, you will die a million deaths before they finally plant you. . . .

Worship power—you will feel weak and afraid, and you will need ever more power over others to keep the fear at bay. Worship your intellect, being seen as smart—you will end up feeling stupid, a fraud, always on the verge of being found out. And so on.

 Look, the insidious thing about these forms of worship . . . is that they are unconscious. They are default-settings. They’re the kind of worship you just gradually slip into, day after day . . .

David Foster Wallace (novelist) – commencement address, Kenyon College, 2005