I AM MALALA

             I just read a new book by the name “I Am Malala.” It is written by a Pakistani teenager, Malala Yousafzai, who was shot on her school bus by a member of the Taliban. Then just this week Malala received the Nobel Peace Prize, who at seventeen years of age, is the youngest person to ever receive a Nobel Prize. She was targeted for death by the Taliban because as a twelve, thirteen and fourteen year old she had become a widely known advocate and speaker for girls to go to school. The Taliban doesn’t think girls should be educated, or work outside the home. They are to stay in the house and when they do go outside they are to wear a burka (a full body covering with a slit for the eyes) and be accompanied by a male family member.

            The book is an inspiring story of this young girl and her courage. But I also recommend you read the book for a close look at the Taliban and the society they wish to create. Some of what they believe does have roots in Muslim teaching. But, like Christians, there are those who are moderates, liberals, conservatives and radical conservatives. But it isn’t the radical teaching of the Taliban which causes concern, it is their intent to kill anyone who does not agree with them, such as the girl Malala. Also, where they have power they kill anyone who will not convert to the Moslem faith. In this book one can glimpse the stupidity of their beliefs and their utter cruelty. My prayer is that God will save the Pakistanis and all other peoples from such a group as this.

            Knowing the Taliban and what they want for us and everyone else, I recognize them as our enemies. And I remember the instruction of Jesus, “love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44) With the Taliban, that will be hard to do. 

Grace and peace.

EBOLA

             If you are like me you probably never heard of the Ebola virus until recent weeks. Ebola is transmitted from one person to another or from infected animals through bodily fluids. It is difficult to cure and the last figure I saw was 2400 dead as the virus ravages west Africa. Missionary doctors from the U.S. have contracted it as they treated others. These were flown back to the U.S. and recovered. The epidemic has not been slowed thus far.

            Diseases seemingly come out of nowhere and cause widespread death. HIV/Aids is still claiming many lives in Africa, even though medicines for treatment have been developed. Many lack the medicine or lack information about the disease.

            As I have noted before, we seem quite unable to help in these situations. That, of course, is not true. We can help financially to the extent God enables us. Locally, Eddie Gibson, on the staff of Sardis Baptist is working with Liberians in Birmingham, Al. to collect foodstuffs to Liberia where the Ebola outbreak has interfered with food production and availability. One result of the Ebola crisis is that my prayer list has expanded once again to include those fighting it in west Africa. I believe with all my heart that the Holy Spirit works through dedicated scientists and medical personnel to develop medicines and treatments for all kinds of diseases. Therefore I pray for God’s Spirit to do just that in the Ebola crisis. And I pray that God will help those who are ill, the families of those who succumb to the disease, and those who are ministering to them. Again, I believe with all my heart that God hears and acts in response to prayer. “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11:24) 

Grace and peace.

WHO DID YOU PHONE?

           Edward Snowden and his leaking of government surveillance information are still in the news and are considered editorially in the latest issue of Christianity Today. As I understand the issue the government, with other nations, has traced phone calls, emails and other correspondence of all of us. I further understand they have information on who we have phoned, who has phoned us, whom we have emailed and from whom we have received email. They do not have the actual communications, what was said or written, just the traffic information. They do therefore have information on the amount of traffic between people here and radicals in the near east, information I really want them to have.

            It doesn’t bother me for the government to know with whom I’ve been in contact. Now, if I was plotting some action detrimental to the nation or to businesses, or even to individuals, it would bother me for my communications to be tracked. Otherwise, I don’t think any of us should be upset over this kind of government surveillance. It goes back to the truth that we should not be engaged in anything we need to hide.

            Indeed, if we join the psalmist in his desire to, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer;” (Psalm 19:14) we then need not be concerned even if someone does know the content of our conversations and emails. If it is acceptable to God, surely it will be acceptable to most others.

Grace and peace.

GOD HEALS

             The Holy Spirit gives gifts of service to all believers. “The Holy Spirit displays God’s power through each of us as a means of helping the entire church.” (1 Corinthians 12:7 TLB)  In this passage the apostle Paul lists the various gifts. Each of us has a gift or gifts which we know or should endeavor to discover. Every Christian is given a gift but it is implied that none is given all the gifts. And we cannot receive a gift on our own. They are given by the Spirit. If I could attain another spiritual gift it would be the gift of healing. When Jesus chose his twelve disciples he gave them the power to heal. (Matthew 10:1)

            Some claim the gift of healing was given only in the first century. Many who have claimed the gift, and famously so on TV and hyped healing crusades, have proven to be false upon investigation. This debate continues.

            I do know and have witnessed God giving miraculous healings in spite of scientific knowledge and hopeless symptoms. I have not seen it in connection to an individual “faith healer.” But I know God can do it. I don‘t know why one is healed and many others are not.

            So often I’ve been in a hospital room overcome with sympathy and wished for the ability to proclaim, “You are healed” or like Jesus “take up your bed and walk.” Alas, I do not have that gift.

            But I do believe God hears and answers prayers. I do not hesitate to pray in faith for His healing touch. I do not hesitate to anoint the sick with oil and, with others, pray for healing. And to His praise I have been granted the privilege of seeing it happen.

            Keep praying. Keep believing. God will act. 

Grace and Peace

FRUSTRATION BUILDING PATIENCE

            A couple of weeks ago I wrote of Liz and my tendency to over pack for any journey. For the past two weeks we have learned how little we need to get along.

            It began when Delta caused us to miss our connection in Atlanta. We spent the first night in an Atlanta hotel. We supposed Delta had sent our luggage on to London. We had some scant basics in our carryon pieces. The next day we flew to London but the Delta baggage people didn’t have the luggage and had no idea where it might be. We filled out forms, and as we were scheduled to fly British Airways to Leeds to join our tour group, they promised to send the bags to our hotel there. Guess what? They did not appear. More phone calls back to Heathrow to complain. They promised they would get the bags to our hotel in Glasgow where we would spend two nights. Guess what? They did not appear. More phone calls and promises they would get them to our next stop in Dublin where again we would stay two nights.  Guess what? They did not appear. More phone calls and more promises. They would get them to our hotel in Waterford. Repeat performance. They would get them to our hotel in Cardiff. Still no bags when we got back to London. We checked again with the baggage people at Heathrow. They supposedly had sent the bags after us but they didn’t get them to us. At that point they had no idea where they were. We are home today and only God knows where in His beautiful world our bags rest.

            In the meantime we bought a few pieces of clothing, a Jacket for Liz against the cold weather and an electric power converter, three of which were in our lost luggage. We washed clothes in the lavatory each night in our hotel room. It is amazing to me how little we got by with. Maybe this experience will inform our next packing for a trip.

            Otherwise, we still managed to enjoy the tour. And James tells us “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (James 1:2-3)

 

Grace and peace.

SO LONG

                           The past couple of days have been rather hectic for Liz and me as we prepared for our anniversary trip. First we had to measure our luggage to make sure its dimensions were allowed by the airline and the tour company. After doing so we needed to contemplate what to leave behind. We are notorious for packing too much for any trip. We tend to carry along anything we think we may need. And most of these are things which could easily be replaced along the way. We also pack as though there will be no laundry facilities where we stay; therefore we carry eleven days of clothes. In my case we need a suitcase just to carry all the medicines I take or use or may need. (Alka-Seltzer anyone?)

            This trip had a new wrinkle. I went to the library and downloaded some books to my I pad. No need to carry hard copies with me, even though I prefer reading from a page rather than a screen.

            Then we needed to get all our papers and passports together in logical order, which by no means indicate that we will not fumble with them as we need them.

            We finally got it all done, and will get on our way this afternoon. With all the air line tragedies lately, we covet your prayers for our safe travel.

            Our final trip will be much less hectic. The Lord will take us up to be with Him. We won’t need to take anything with us, no passports and no luggage. In fact, Liz is concerned by some of the depictions of the rapture which have people being caught up without their clothes! However He wants to take us is fine with me. “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up….”(I Thessalonians 4:17) 

Grace and peace.

AGE NO BARRIER

I read something the other day which was encouraging to older adults like me. In an article AAA reported, “Drivers over 70 are as safe as drivers of 25. Drivers over 80 are less safe but still safer than drivers in their teens.” This contradicts popular opinion that all older drivers are less safe than any younger drivers.

Having been in a serious one vehicle accident last December, I was ready to believe popular opinion. But I knew my accident was not because of my age. It was simply a matter of distracted diving.

In fact, many older adults are doing things that many younger people cannot or will not do. This morning I watched an 89 year old friend on the tennis court moving well to the ball and stroking the ball with authority.  I saw on television a man who was 101 years old and running a marathon. Many older senior adults are going back to school, or learning a new language or composing music or poetry and writing novels. It isn’t age that makes the difference, but the physical condition and mental ambition of the individual.

When he was 85 years old Caleb reminded Joshua of the place God through Moses had given him and he was ready to go claim it. In the process he said the Lord had kept him alive and at this time he is as strong as he had been forty years earlier when he was sent to spy out the land. (Joshua 14) He went and conquered the land and continued to live.

If God blesses us with long life he also has a promise for us. “As your days, so shall your strength be.” (Deuteronomy 33:25)  

Grace and peace.