Change of Direction?

The weekend was hectic—at least that’s my excuse for a late blog. The weekend was mostly a writers’ conference, and again, there was a call for bloggers to identify their audience if they wanted to increase readership. I’ve heard the call before, but usually resisted it.

I’m not in the numbers game, I tell myself. I need to say what fires me, even if others don’t like it and switch off. So I rationalize retaining the faithful few who for some reason follow my ramblings all over the planet.

But then I recall that my writing is not just for me to express myself, but in some way to help others. This is a really radical thought, for it leads to a reversal of intention and a fundamentally different end product. But what?

Then I recall a blog written months ago about family that garnered several times the readership I am used to. I have to conclude that if so many people found that at least interesting, perhaps even helpful, then I must have scratched where it itched.

So my perhaps I should redirect this blog to the subjects of marriage, family, and relationships for a while, and see if my prognostications are right. But that poses a problem.

First, the information on marriage is endless. It seems everyone has all the answers, but which is clearly contradicted by the statistics. It seems the more we think we know, the less effective it is. Secondly, even after 58 years of marriage, I still don’t have all the answers.

That`s not to say I haven’t learned a lot, nor that my guide for life, the Bible, doesn’t give direction. But I recognise that I, like everyone else, is a finite, fallen being and that apart from God’s grace and the insight of His Spirit, my thinking is easily clouded or distorted.

So with such an excess of competition, and a frequently uninformed understanding of marital relationships, how much do I have to offer? Will I go this route? I’ll think about it and let you know next weekend.

Suicide Atack on Pakistani Chruch Kills 78 People

 

A pair of suicide bombers blew themselves up outside a 130-year-old church in Peshawar after Sunday Mass, killing at least 60 people in the deadliest attack on Christians in recent history. “The number of dead will be more than 200 because the Church was full to its capacity,” one worshipper, Caroline White, told The Telegraph.

This is today’s news—September 22, 2013. In most of the Muslim world it is dangerous to be a Christian—Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Pakistan among others. There is sufficient diversity in the Quran to legitimize both the claim that Islam is a peaceful religion, but also that opponents must be eliminated.

The latter teaching has given rise to the jihadist movement that seeks to impose Islam and Sharia law upon the entire earth. It inspires religious fervour to achieve its goal through indiscriminate violence against any belief that opposes it—especially Christianity or “Christian” countries.

So this type of attack should come as no surprise, and will continue as an ongoing war against the “infidel.” But we in the west should not be complacent, that “It can’t happen here.” The program for take-over is threefold.

Bill Calderwood’s research in his book: What in Heavens’ Name is Happening on Earth? notes stage one as a weakened state where the Muslim community lives in peace, but attracts converts and seeks influence in the wider population.

Stage two, the preparation stage, establishes influence in every area of the target country, from financial, government and military, ready to strike and impose an Islamic Sharia dictatorship. Already, in Britain and France, there are “no-go” Muslim areas where Sharia law is enforced.

The last stage is open jihadist attack to terrorize and subdue opposing elements. “Every Muslim’s duty is to actively fight the enemy, overturning the system of the non-Muslim country and establishing Islamic authority.”p.108.

This attack should leave us in no doubt they would be just as happy to export the same treatment to western nations once they have sufficient strength and resources to do so. Small cells currently attempting that in the west are simply a precursor of greater jihadist goals for us.

BUILDINGS REVEAL OUR ATTUTUDE TO GOD

It is said you can tell a lot about a person from the books on his shelf. Similarly, it seems to me that we can gain much about culture from the buildings each society erects.

A visit to Stonehenge during a trip to England this summer reminded me that many ancient structures across the world: the Mayan temples, the pyramids, and so on, as well as Stonehenge, were remnants of human search for God—recognition of a greater power and authority beyond humankind.

More recently, much of the heritage of Europe is found in Greek and Roman temples and Christian churches and cathedrals. The villages and towns of Europe were all nestled around the spire of the local church.

All this points to the human search for God throughout history, a natural desire placed there by a Creator who yearns for His creation to seek Him. But it has been argued that if God wanted us to find Him, He has failed miserably.

Unfortunately, many religions try to manage or appease God in some way—an attempt to control the uncontrollable. It is as we recognize not only His compassion and mercy, but also our need of them, that we discover Him.

A further argument suggests that God could easily reveal Himself if He existed. But the apparent hiddenness of God reveals His desire that we should seek Him willingly. Irrefutable evidence of His reality would coerce unwilling allegiance to Him.

As it is, we have the option to recognize or dismiss Him from the evidence and experience around us: to be masters of our own fate; to accept or deny a final accountability; to deny even when inwardly convinced of His final authority over our lives.

Even a cursory knowledge of history reveals a continuing human search for God through the centuries; except perhaps the last century in the western world. Most westerners deny or ignore the existence of God—unthinkable to previous generations.

Which brings us to buildings in cities today. The vast or soaring structures may symbolize the importance of commerce or manufacturing; a lesser level for education and healthcare. But reverence for God is tucked neatly away in the concrete jungle.

The ability to ignore God for our own convenience is alive but not well for today’s culture.

Taking a Break

 

I’ll be travelling for the next month and a half, so it’s unlikely that I will be posting to this site during that period.

Have a great summer. Will be in touch again in the fall.

May God bless you and those you love,

Bryan

Mourn Over Canada

 

Canada day is past with its rejoicing over a secure and prosperous nation. Yet Canada’s foremost major problem—beyond any political scandal or natural tragedy—is a casual and indifferent attitude to life.

We are incensed at the killing of unarmed civilians by the Egyptian military, but shrug at the slaughter of 100,000 unborn children every year in our nation, as though we were slaughtering pigs. A city larger than my hometown of Lethbridge, Alberta is wiped off the map every year.

It seems to be an open secret a child may be killed in the womb; even outside the womb if there is one toe still in the vaginal canal at birth. A child is not considered a person, and can be killed at will for any and every reason until it is totally clear of the mother’s body.

This is not because there is a law permitting abortion any time during pregnancy, but quite the reverse. There is no law forbidding it. As the chart below shows, Canada partners with North Korea and China in having no protection of any sort for a child in the womb. Further, an aborted child, even if it is fully born alive, is likely to be illegally slain. The slaughter goes beyond birth.

Will we continue to mourn the carnage within our own house next Canada Day?

Profiling

 

Two news items in the last few days caught my attention. One was Obama’s “from the heart” message about sensing suspicion, hostility and fear as an African American. The other was Detroit’s decision to go bankrupt. It reminded me of an experience that links the two.

A few years ago Ann and I were returning from Quebec to western Canada through the States. That meant the Windsor Detroit crossing. Our exit ramp was closed off. Taking the next exit got us lost in a city we’d never been to before.

We turned in what appeared to be the right direction out of the city. But to drive through a city with streets of abandoned and derelict buildings is an eerie feeling—especially if you don’t know where you are, or how to get out of it.

We eventually found ourselves in a seedy looking neighbourhood. I pulled over to see if I had map that would help us find a way out. A black youth approached us. Our reaction? “O-oh! What does he want?” He knocked on the window. We lowered it part way. “Are you guys lost?” he asked.

He kindly gave us directions to the highway we needed and we were on our way. I wondered how my reaction would have differed if a white youth had approached us. Our apprehension would probably have grown with the number of dreadlocks on his head and rings in his face!

Clearly, we do profile people according to our past experience and the knowledge we have about them. But every individual is different, and we only find out by approaching each one as Christ would. We should know a clean white face may seem friendly, but is not a guarantee of safety.

Christianity: A Counter Culture

 

When I was a teen, I lived on the south coast of England, where the sea was an inviting diversion from schoolwork. When the tide was high, I couldn’t be sure where the rocks were. It was only at low tide, they became visible so I could avoid them.

When I was a teen, England, like the west generally, pursued common life values promoted by the Christian faith. But now Christian values have ebbed, distinctive Christian values are sharply visible against a developing anti-Christian culture.

This creates two possibilities. First, it is easier to target Christians who speak publicly of their beliefs, the precursor to intimidation and persecution of Christians. Let us not forget persecution of Christians has been mostly normal for 2000 years. We may not escape.

Homosexuality is shaping up to be the leading edge for harassment of Christians. Recently, a London street preacher happened to state homosexuality, as well as adultery and sex before marriage, was a sin. He was arrested and interrogated for seven hours before being released without charge.

But second, and more positively, it is easier to be a witness when our lifestyles are increasingly different from the surrounding culture. Perhaps foremost in opposing Christianity is entitlement to personal rights. This is the basis of much social anger and unrest. Compare this to Christ who:

. . . made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:7-8.

This attitude can be the leading edge of representing Christ; it generates an approach to life that sharply contrasts our faith to the prevailing social outlook around us. Remember, Christianity is a counter-culture.