Micah 6:8

Reality

I was cruising the web this morning looking for something completely unrelated when I stumbled upon this picture. I had read the newstory story about this girls beheading through the Voice of the Martyrs' prayer alert. It makes me so sad to see her picture. The reality of it all seemed so removed. I hate how I can read about event like this and not even feel sad. The picture is horrible. It makes me think about her poor family and how much they must be suffering. Sometimes the reality of what others suffer really strikes me. I hope that it strikes you too. You can read about what went on here. Please pray for her family.

Injustice in Canada

There have been some recent blows to freedom of speech in Canada that I would to draw all of your attention to. Recently UBC's Okanagan campus's student union passed a motion to ban all pro-life groups from having club status. Carleton University in Ontario will be attempting to pass a similar ban at their campus next week. This a substantial blow to freedom of speech because groups that do not have club status are denied the ability to organize events on campus, use campus facilities for their purposes and to pamphlet the campus. Because Canadian campuses are actually private property this also shuts down any peaceful demonstrations because with prior approval people can be charged with trespassing if they refuse to leave when confronted. Interestingly enough, the ban at Carleton University was drafted after a friend of mine did a debate against a pro-choice representative. His debate spawned criticism that even discussing these topics might upset people that had had abortions previously. I guess this means that public discourse on any contentious subjects is now politically incorrect. Good thing the gestapo is out there protecting the sensibilities of the masses of impressionable university students.

Universities need to be places where open discussion is not shut down. Societies can not move foreword if dissenting views are squashed. I really think that violations of our freedom of speech such as this one are only a small step away from a ban on any controversial Christian activity. Once we ban pro-life groups from speaking out on campuses what stops student unions from then banning any group that is pro-evangelism? If student unions are free to do this then what stops government authorities from putting similar bans on free speech into the public sector?

Here are some links to brief news stories that cover some more of the details:
UBC Okanagan Campus
Carleton Unversity

Please consider writing some letters to the following people to voice your disapproval. I have linked to some sample letters that you are free to use directly or just for ideas.
Letter to Carleton President
Letter to UBC Okanagan
Letter to UBC President

Carlton University Student Union Contacts:
President - Shawn Menard: pres@cusaonline.com
Executive Coordinator - James Pratt exc@cusaonline.com
VP Finance - Shelley Melanson vpf@cusaonline.com
VP Internal Affairs - Lyndon George vpi@cusaonline.com
VP External Affairs - Blake Brooks vpx@cusaonline.com
VP Student Issues - Isaac Cockburn vpsi@cusaonline.com
VP Student Services - Katy McIntyre vpss@cusaonline.com ***Originator of
the motion to force all clubs to be 'pro-choice' ***
Clubs & Societies clubs@cusaonline.com

Carleton University Administration:
Vice-President, Acting Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Dr. Feridun
Hamdullpur, provost@carleton.ca
Vice-President, Finance & Administration Duncan Watt c/o
b_wells@carleton.ca

Carleton University Board of Governors:
Board of Governors governors@carleton.ca

UBC Okanagan Administration:

Prof. Stephen J. Toope
President, University of British Columbia
6328 Memorial Road
Vancouver, BC
Canada V6T 1Z2
Phone: 604.822.8300
Fax: 604.822.5055
E-mail: presidents.office@ubc.ca

Marie Molloy
Human Rights & Equity Advisor
University of British Columbia, Okanagan
3333 University Way, SSC 119F
Kelowna, BC, Canada, V1V 1V7
Tel: 250.807.9291
Email: marie.molloy@ubc.ca

Persecution is a Blessing

There is an interesting article on The Voice of the Martyrs blog. Glenn Penner discusses how all to often our response to the persecuted church is to be thankful that we are free to worship as we choose. I agree with Glenn that this misses the point. Phil 1:29 and 1 Peter 2:20,21 both even go as far as saying that we are called to suffer for Christ. I, personally, am starting to long for persecution. Not for my own glory but for Jesus’. I want to share with him in his suffering.

I am coming to the conclusion that if we are not experiencing it then we need to figure out why. I’m realizing that persecution is inevitable if we are living godly lives. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Tim 3:12). Holiness is an affront to our culture. It exposes evil. When they see our love it challenges their feeling of security. If we’re not experiencing persecution then we are a probably not challenging society in any meaningful sort of way. This is not holiness.

When I was attacked in the spring while doing an abortion demonstration I think that I got my first real taste of persecution. Of course, when I go out there every week and people yell at me that is persecution too but it isn’t the same. I’m not at all fearful of having someone rant at me. Having been attacked has made me somewhat fearful of going out. For me the fear that I feel when I stand out on the street now is very humbling. It reminds me of what Jesus must have been feeling in the garden of Gethsemane as he contemplated his death. I guess that you can say that in a very small way I’ve fellowshipped in his suffering. I definitely feel blessed by the experience.

Woman Loses Fight to Wear Cross

If I were her I'd be buying the biggest, gaudiest cross earings that I could find and see what they would do with that.

A British Airways (BA) employee has lost her fight to openly wear a cross necklace at work at Heathrow. Nadia Eweida, 55, of Twickenham, has been on unpaid leave since her bosses told her she could not visibly wear her cross at the check-in counter.

She found out she had lost her appeal against the decision by BA when she met with the airline bosses on Monday.

BA denied it had banned the wearing of crosses and said Ms Eweida had a right to a second appeal.

It said its uniform policy stated that such items could be worn if concealed underneath the uniform.

read full story

Want to be Persecuted?

I just read this wonderful article over on the Voice of the Martyrs blog. I think that the article that Glen Penner posts by Ronald Boyd-MacMillan very clearly outlines what our job as Christians is. We need to fighting back the evil in our society. If we're not facing persecution we should be asking ourselves if we're really being faithful to challenge the evil around us. I don't think that I've ever read such a good summary of the churches role.

Calgary Man Arrested for Praying in Public

This news is a little late but late is better then never. This story is from the Voice of the Martyrs. Another good take of the story was in the Calgary Sun. This is so unbelievably crazy. I guess that we really do have to expect that persecution is going to happen if we are faithful in obedience and standing against sin.

Four years ago, Artur Pawlowski and others began a ministry to establish a church among the street people of Calgary, Alberta. Along with holding services in parks in the downtown, the Street Church is involved in caring for the physical and emotional needs of the homeless.

In mid-August, Calgary held a Fringe Festival described as an "uncensored, non-juried theatre festival." For the Street Church, however, "uncensored" did not appear to apply.

According to an August 21 article in the Calgary Sun, Pawlowski was concerned about the spiritual influence of tarot card readers and other spiritualist practitioners who had set up displays at the festival. He began talking to the vendors about their practices. Some of the vendors took offense and called the police. The church members were asked to stop talking to the vendors. They agreed. Two days later, on August 16, Pawlowski and others gathered on the street to pray and read the Bible in an area far away from the vendors. Nevertheless, organizers called police who charged Pawlowski with obstruction of justice, trespassing and disturbing the peace. Pawlowski spent the night in jail and is scheduled to appear in court on September 7.

Pray that the leaders of Street Church will faithfully carry out the task God has given them (1 Peter 5:1-4). Pray that the Holy Spirit will give them the words they need as they answer these charges. Pray that all charges will be dropped.

Persecution

John 15:20
Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

Romans 8:17
And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ)—if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him.

Philippians 1:29
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,

Philippians 3:10
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

2 Timothy 1:8
So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,

2 Timothy 3:12
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

1 Peter 2:20, 21
But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

1 Peter 4:12,13
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

Revelation 2:10
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

I've been thinking about my last post a little bit more and I wanted to share some verses that I found on the topic. These verses really make me conclude that the modern church, although maybe not the real church, is doing a very poor job of serving God. How much have you suffered for your faith lately? If your answer is not much then I need to question how Godly you really are (2 Tim 3:12). This and a few other issues that I've mentioned before are why I think that most of what we the church needs to repent and start serving God instead of their own comfort. Our call is radical. People will not like you if you are faithful because you will be exposing sin and calling for righteousness and surrender. Are you willing to be faithful even to the point of death?