In previous newsletters, I have allowed myself the luxury of recommending books I have enjoyed. May I have the luxury of doing the same here? Because I would like to tell you of what has been, for me, a voyage of real discovery.
Some years ago I encountered the book “In Six Days” (edited by John Ashton) in which 50 scientists explain why they each personally believe that God created the heavens and the earth in six days. One section, written by a biologist, showed through elementary probability theory, that even the chance of the 206 main bones of the skeleton being connected together in the correct general position is rather less than one in 10388 (or one in 10 followed by 387 zeros). I could see that this probability is so vanishingly small as to be essentially impossible, and if this simplest thing is so impossible, what about all the other things being correct? So I saw that evolution (from goo to you) could not happen.
From there I discovered that if you follow the chronology of Adam to Christ, as given in Genesis and other historical books of the Bible, the universe was created a little over 6,000 years ago. “A Concise Chronology of the Bible” (John D Brand, Edinburgh Bible College) sequences all the main Bible events and is a mine of useful information.
“The Authenticity of the Book of Genesis” (Bill Cooper) establishes the historical super-accuracy of Genesis in painstaking (academic) detail, while “After the Flood" (Bill Cooper again) connects the table of nations in Genesis 10 precisely and seamlessly with European history.
“Why do we not all believe the historicity and accuracy of Genesis?” I asked a friend. He replied “Because people choose not to believe what God has said”.
But the book I would especially commend is “Genesis for Today” (sixth edition, Andy McIntosh) which expands the thesis that “all Christian doctrine, directly or indirectly, has its basis in the literal events of the first eleven chapters of the Bible”.
This journey has thrown light on the Bible in an astonishing way. What a lesser understanding I tolerated for all these years, though I have always believed the Bible to be the “word of God”. Now I see that the Bible, written by God for our understanding and help, towers above all the thoughts of man, and that all else is defined by it, and not the other way around. Incidentally it also sweeps much that at present passes for science into the trash.
We know that all history is produced by the winners (kings do not write about the battles they lose) and is then reinterpreted regularly to reflect the current view. Egyptian priests inserted the names of non-existent rulers by the dozen into their records to show the antiquity of that dynasty, just as the Vatican established a department dedicated to the forging of documents to confirm its own authority.
We live in an age of unsurpassed access to information, much of which is grossly inaccurate or just plain lies. The ancients misrepresented their history just as we do today.
Monday, 24 December 2018
Christmas 2018 News
December comes around again and challenges us to write a newsletter, not to tell you what wonderful people we are, but to keep in touch. In this astonishingly well-connected age, most people do relatively little keeping-in-touch, hence the reason for this. This is the first letter we have written for a number of years; perhaps it was too much effort before, or we aimed too high.
You probably know that in January 2016 builders began to integrate our ground floor and integral garage into one living space. The garage turned into a little study at the front, plus a utility room and shower room/toilet, and the kitchen and back lounge was renewed throughout. Now we can live wholly on the ground floor should eventual decrepitude render upstairs unattainable, and we are very happy with the results. The garden received a full width level patio and the planting of perennials to reduce work.
Of course, two days before the work started, Mike suffered a TIA from which he has gradually recovered apart from low level memory loss. Being human, we both feel the effects of getting a little older, but remain generally quite well.
It will be apparent to you that our intention is to remain in Reading where our friends are. Road traffic increases and we routinely use a sat-nav even for the weekly visit to ALDI to bypass jams.
In January we attended the Thanksgiving for Janet’s Aunt Lucy in Stourbridge. She was 96 and a much-loved Auntie. Janet had always felt close to her because they had followed a similar career in nursing.
In April we attended the Thanksgiving in Reading for Pam Jarvis who had been a particular friend to Janet in Reading.
In June, long haul flights having become too tiring especially for Janet, we enjoyed a couple of week’s holiday near St Mawes in Cornwall on a farm with entertainment provided by moo-cows scratching their heads on an adjacent stone wall, a boat trip across the water to Falmouth and excursions to National Trust gardens, a death experience for Mike because he will never be able to emulate them.
In July we travelled up to Liverpool to attend the Thanksgiving for Alan Turnbull who, with Marion his wife, had been very supportive to us in the mission work in which we were jointly involved in Malawi, Central Africa between 1993 and 1995.
It is quite impossible to express our gratefulness for their kindness for so many things, even lending us their house and car at different times, and their love especially when Malawi felt more like a war zone than the warm heart of Africa.
In August, Janet’s father moved to the Isle of Wight and we visited him after some weeks. Richard, one of Janet’s three brothers and his wife Jeanette are caring for him in their beautiful home in Wootton Bridge, and he is settling in well to his new surroundings and enjoys being part of a family again.
In September, our dear Japanese friend Kik died after a long illness. She had lived with us all together for about seven years, had become a part of the family, been a bright and shining light, and we loved her dearly.
At intervals we travelled north-east to Norfolk to visit Mike’s brother Paul and wife Carol in Aylsham; they always look after us very well.
Both of us are wired into the 21st century with PCs, tablets and smartphones; Janet to keep in touch via WhatsApp, etc, and Mike to read the newspaper. Mike is known to occasionally use computers for useful things when they are not requiring updates or repairs.
We greatly value our church, Earley Christian Fellowship, are concerned about the immense moral, cultural and political changes occurring in the UK, and fully aware that the only way forward is dependence upon God. Our church friends, here and around the country, continue to be a great blessing to us, and we hope that we can be a blessing to them through hospitality, through input into the church, and having people to stay from time to time.
Sons Tim and Ben, in their thirties, are making their way professionally: Tim is working in Reading in systems management, and Ben is working in Bracknell and is engaged.
We want to assure you of our love; we increasingly value the love of family and friends.
You probably know that in January 2016 builders began to integrate our ground floor and integral garage into one living space. The garage turned into a little study at the front, plus a utility room and shower room/toilet, and the kitchen and back lounge was renewed throughout. Now we can live wholly on the ground floor should eventual decrepitude render upstairs unattainable, and we are very happy with the results. The garden received a full width level patio and the planting of perennials to reduce work.
Of course, two days before the work started, Mike suffered a TIA from which he has gradually recovered apart from low level memory loss. Being human, we both feel the effects of getting a little older, but remain generally quite well.
It will be apparent to you that our intention is to remain in Reading where our friends are. Road traffic increases and we routinely use a sat-nav even for the weekly visit to ALDI to bypass jams.
In January we attended the Thanksgiving for Janet’s Aunt Lucy in Stourbridge. She was 96 and a much-loved Auntie. Janet had always felt close to her because they had followed a similar career in nursing.
In April we attended the Thanksgiving in Reading for Pam Jarvis who had been a particular friend to Janet in Reading.
In June, long haul flights having become too tiring especially for Janet, we enjoyed a couple of week’s holiday near St Mawes in Cornwall on a farm with entertainment provided by moo-cows scratching their heads on an adjacent stone wall, a boat trip across the water to Falmouth and excursions to National Trust gardens, a death experience for Mike because he will never be able to emulate them.
In July we travelled up to Liverpool to attend the Thanksgiving for Alan Turnbull who, with Marion his wife, had been very supportive to us in the mission work in which we were jointly involved in Malawi, Central Africa between 1993 and 1995.
It is quite impossible to express our gratefulness for their kindness for so many things, even lending us their house and car at different times, and their love especially when Malawi felt more like a war zone than the warm heart of Africa.
In August, Janet’s father moved to the Isle of Wight and we visited him after some weeks. Richard, one of Janet’s three brothers and his wife Jeanette are caring for him in their beautiful home in Wootton Bridge, and he is settling in well to his new surroundings and enjoys being part of a family again.
In September, our dear Japanese friend Kik died after a long illness. She had lived with us all together for about seven years, had become a part of the family, been a bright and shining light, and we loved her dearly.
At intervals we travelled north-east to Norfolk to visit Mike’s brother Paul and wife Carol in Aylsham; they always look after us very well.
Both of us are wired into the 21st century with PCs, tablets and smartphones; Janet to keep in touch via WhatsApp, etc, and Mike to read the newspaper. Mike is known to occasionally use computers for useful things when they are not requiring updates or repairs.
We greatly value our church, Earley Christian Fellowship, are concerned about the immense moral, cultural and political changes occurring in the UK, and fully aware that the only way forward is dependence upon God. Our church friends, here and around the country, continue to be a great blessing to us, and we hope that we can be a blessing to them through hospitality, through input into the church, and having people to stay from time to time.
Sons Tim and Ben, in their thirties, are making their way professionally: Tim is working in Reading in systems management, and Ben is working in Bracknell and is engaged.
We want to assure you of our love; we increasingly value the love of family and friends.
Saturday, 1 January 2011
A Guid New Year to Ane an' A'. (Christmas 2010 News)
 |
| Mike and Janet at the World Outreach Summit in South Africa in 2007 (the paunch is an illusion) |
We value all our friends and relatives, and hope that we will be able to maintain more contact with many of you as increasing seniority slows our pace of life.
However if our experience since Mike turned 65 is anything to go by, Parkinson’s law - activities expand to occupy all available time - continues to operate.
Mike writing…
Over the last few days we have been trying to reduce the paperwork in the house, and, in the process, have come across copies of letters going back to 1990. It was in January 1993 we went as a young family to Malawi to do whatever the Lord showed us to do. We had felt for some years that it was too easy to carry on as we were, in a lower-middle-class very comfortable existence, and we wanted to ‘up’ our contribution to the spread of the gospel.
Somehow we were accepted by World Outreach, although our background must have been very different from others that they had partnered with, and they must have been aware how naïve we were. But they were willing to run with us and be supportive in whatever way they could, and in January 1995 we unilaterally decided to return to the UK.
The two years in Central Africa were life-changing, and it is even possible that others benefited from having us around in Africa just as we definitely benefited greatly from them. Financially in today’s terms it cost us about a quarter of a million pounds in terms of the smaller house we now have, but it was a good deal, and we would do it again.
It is not possible to evaluate what benefit it was to the
Since then the years have rolled on, and God has continued to talk to us about many things – we don’t imagine that we are any different from you in this respect – and cared for us through redundancy, church splits and varying health, and we are wondering what next we can do to ‘up’ our contribution to the spread of the gospel.
We see opportunities to become involved with charities working in the town – there are so many ways we could help others – but something stops us each time. We are aware that it is so easy to be exclusive – so many people are and we need to consider “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me”.
So we have come to 2010 with me reaching 65 in August with Janet a few years behind. Since 2003 I had worked as Operations Director for World Outreach UK, creating office systems and running the UK office. In November 2009 I relinquished this responsibility and one year later resigned fully from the UK trust to allow me to completely clear my desk.
Since December 2009, Janet has been caring in our home for a lady friend with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Because she has been a friend for almost ten years, Janet felt that it was something that we could do for a time, with my agreement and support. So Janet does most of the caring, and I the paperwork, and both are almost full time jobs.
We enjoy the company of dear friends at Earley Christian Fellowship, but feel that life is ‘on hold’ for the moment. In the mean time we try to ‘shake the house down’ – to discard non-essentials: books, furniture, clothes, without knowing what the next stage is going to be. Will we move? We don’t know. We hang on to the Lord and live a day at a time. Will we go abroad again? We read somewhere "25,000 people come to the Lord in sub-Saharan Africa every day". Is there some way we can help? We are open to doing so.
It’s too easy to settle for being comfortable, but we don’t think it’s what God made us for. We see a heavenly city and want to secure all our futures there.
This comes with all our love to you – thank you for your love and for continuing to be a friend.
Janet writing…
Over the last few years it’s been difficult getting to all the jobs that need to be done to rejuvenate the house, mainly because Mike’s stronger muscles have not been available for these tasks.
So, in answer to prayer, we were very pleased to obtain the service of Polish builders to replace the back fence – the neighbours were delighted – the low front wall – the neighbours were even more delighted – and to repaint soffit and fascias – the bits around the roof overhang. Mike even entered into the spirit of renewal and got a ton of topsoil dumped at the front so that he could re-grass the garden and plant shrubs in soil rather than clay – the neighbours were ecstatic. They are keen gardeners.
The Polish builders turned out to have Russian and Rumanian components, and we discovered that they had to use simplified English to communicate even among themselves!
In our holidays this year we have been unable to chase the sun, but have enjoyed the generous hospitality of friends in the UK. In July we spent a few days with a friend who lives in Babbacombe on Tor Bay and moved on to other friends in Penryn near Falmouth. How clear are the skies and bright the colours in that part of the world! And what a delight to bask in the sun at Kynance Cove; we were last there 30 years ago on our honeymoon!
In October we were able to spend a couple of days discovering Symonds Yat, followed by a few days with friends in Leintwardine. And in December we visited family in Aylsham for the 70th birthday of Mike’s brother, the only other relative Mike has in the UK.
To sum up the year — I have learned more about the faithfulness of God. His strength in my weakness and His incredible kindness to us as a family.
To finish off...
It is three years ago that Tim left Computer 2000 in Basingstoke where they increased targets every time he got near them, and took a job in DEFRA - you know who they are: they used to pay subsidies to farmers with fields that they later discovered to be in the middle of the North Sea. That's all sorted out now!
Ben is working hard for a company in Bracknell, getting close to or achieving targets. For both of them, it’s the business of establishing themselves where the longer-term future is a little bit clearer.
For the future for all of us, it’s a case of ‘watch this space’. According to the astronomers, we live in an expanding universe, and that’s how we see things too.
And lastly, for your entertainment, since we all know that the world is going mad, we offer:
€400,000 for the “Flying Gorillas” dance troupe
The EU’s Culture Programme funded the “Flying Gorillas” with €200,000 in 2007 and 2009. Hornchurch’s Queen’s Theatre described the show in 2005: “Using their own language of rhythm, music and gibberish, The Flying Gorillas explore ideas of friendship, tolerance, argument and understanding. Featuring the exciting Tango, the brilliant Smelly Foot Dance and the incredibly difficult Iguana Four-Step, Tango Argumentino has an all-acoustic score using saxophones, clarinets, steel pans, didgeridoo, musical saw, Chinese percussion, rhythm bananas and some spectacular belching.” The project’s website says, “If there is any message, it’s that serious dance, music and theatre are fun.”
See Top 50 EU Waste 2010
Sunday, 6 June 2010
Today Janet gave me the go-ahead
Today Janet gave me the go-ahead: she said "If you want to go to Africa again to preach the gospel, if God shows you that is what he wants you to do I will back you".
"Do you really mean that" I asked. "Of course I really mean that" she replied. "If God makes it clear that it is what he wants you to do I'll back you to the hilt".
Tonight I lay awake thinking about it. When we returned from Africa in February 1995, we were brought home by 10 different reasons including having run out of money, God graciously gave us enough extra money to buy our present house and redo the wiring, plumbing and some re-decoration.
From experiences indelibly imprinted on my mind by our time in Africa I had considered putting razor wire round the garden only to discover it would be frowned upon by the law. It had taken many months to recover from the fear of dark nights and stories of hold-ups with AK47s with which we had lived in Malawi. Did I want to go through that again? I had forgotten how that felt.
Over the meal table we had discussed why I wanted to go. Statistics from World Outreach told us that in 1900 sub-saharan Africa was only 3% Christian, but is now 50% Christian with 25,000 new believers being added every day. Who is caring for them? Or are they being sidelined into cults and weird denominations rather than being liberated into the pure gospel of a loving God.
And how can we stay in the UK, growing old, knowing what gospel grace we know? when there could be opportunities to help in Africa.
Was our time in Malawi from January 1993 to February 1995 'unfinished business', or was it just an experience along the way?
Why did we both spent time most days reading the scriptures and asking the Lord to explain them to us if we weren't going to use all this knowledge somewhere?
"I didn't have a thyroid problem last time we were in Africa. Now my body can't control it's temperature properly and I can't handle hot weather, so God will need to do something if I am to cope" Janet commented.
"And I don't have any formal theological qualifications". It was Pippa who had reminded us the previous Sunday that the church group from which we came had regarded Bible school as superfluous once 'the Holy Ghost has come' and we 'have no need that any man teach us for when he is come he will lead us into all truth'.
And that is how it had been, except that graduation from a Bible School might (a) open doors and (b) provide confidence that we could accomplish what we had in our hearts to do.
But if God is putting into our hearts to return to Africa, surely he will open the way and take us where he wants us to go? "One thing is sure", I had said to Janet this afternoon, "If God does not open the way we are going nowhere. I don't have the energy any more to push doors open. By lunchtime every day I am exhausted and it's easy to get very little done in a day".
So I lay in my bed and thought about all this, and then got up to write it all down while it remained fresh in my mind.
"What timescale?" I had asked. Janet replied after some thought "August 2011 I should think. There is too much to do for it to happen any earlier, and that will give us time to get ready and put everything into place". I shall have been retired one year.
The days since I put down the work of the World Outreach office at the end of November 2009 have been thoroughly unsatisfactory. Motivating myself to do anything at all has been very difficult. Not that I have been sitting around doing nothing - far from it. But the jobs I have set myself: to clear the house of things we could manage without, and to redecorate very simply, were just not happening. It has been difficult to detach myself from the World Outreach work which I had eaten, drunk and slept since 2003 and even today I have been again adding entries to the Operations Guide in response to a request from the new Operations Director. The website is gradually dying although the design of the new one is still continuing to grow in my mind.
"Can I share our thoughts of returning to Africa with friends?" I had asked Janet. "Yes, with closer friends, but not everyone because it may cause them to become unsettled. You're going to have to begin to put out feelers and talk to people because things won't just happen by themselves. You will have to make them happen".
It was on Sunday morning that Graham and Lisa Stevenson had spoken at the morning church meeting we attend about the parable of the talents and I had felt strongly affected by his words not to bury what we had in the ground.
So after writing this, making a hot drink, and talking to the Lord about it, I returned to bed.
"Do you really mean that" I asked. "Of course I really mean that" she replied. "If God makes it clear that it is what he wants you to do I'll back you to the hilt".
Tonight I lay awake thinking about it. When we returned from Africa in February 1995, we were brought home by 10 different reasons including having run out of money, God graciously gave us enough extra money to buy our present house and redo the wiring, plumbing and some re-decoration.
From experiences indelibly imprinted on my mind by our time in Africa I had considered putting razor wire round the garden only to discover it would be frowned upon by the law. It had taken many months to recover from the fear of dark nights and stories of hold-ups with AK47s with which we had lived in Malawi. Did I want to go through that again? I had forgotten how that felt.
Over the meal table we had discussed why I wanted to go. Statistics from World Outreach told us that in 1900 sub-saharan Africa was only 3% Christian, but is now 50% Christian with 25,000 new believers being added every day. Who is caring for them? Or are they being sidelined into cults and weird denominations rather than being liberated into the pure gospel of a loving God.
And how can we stay in the UK, growing old, knowing what gospel grace we know? when there could be opportunities to help in Africa.
Was our time in Malawi from January 1993 to February 1995 'unfinished business', or was it just an experience along the way?
Why did we both spent time most days reading the scriptures and asking the Lord to explain them to us if we weren't going to use all this knowledge somewhere?
"I didn't have a thyroid problem last time we were in Africa. Now my body can't control it's temperature properly and I can't handle hot weather, so God will need to do something if I am to cope" Janet commented.
"And I don't have any formal theological qualifications". It was Pippa who had reminded us the previous Sunday that the church group from which we came had regarded Bible school as superfluous once 'the Holy Ghost has come' and we 'have no need that any man teach us for when he is come he will lead us into all truth'.
And that is how it had been, except that graduation from a Bible School might (a) open doors and (b) provide confidence that we could accomplish what we had in our hearts to do.
But if God is putting into our hearts to return to Africa, surely he will open the way and take us where he wants us to go? "One thing is sure", I had said to Janet this afternoon, "If God does not open the way we are going nowhere. I don't have the energy any more to push doors open. By lunchtime every day I am exhausted and it's easy to get very little done in a day".
So I lay in my bed and thought about all this, and then got up to write it all down while it remained fresh in my mind.
"What timescale?" I had asked. Janet replied after some thought "August 2011 I should think. There is too much to do for it to happen any earlier, and that will give us time to get ready and put everything into place". I shall have been retired one year.
The days since I put down the work of the World Outreach office at the end of November 2009 have been thoroughly unsatisfactory. Motivating myself to do anything at all has been very difficult. Not that I have been sitting around doing nothing - far from it. But the jobs I have set myself: to clear the house of things we could manage without, and to redecorate very simply, were just not happening. It has been difficult to detach myself from the World Outreach work which I had eaten, drunk and slept since 2003 and even today I have been again adding entries to the Operations Guide in response to a request from the new Operations Director. The website is gradually dying although the design of the new one is still continuing to grow in my mind.
"Can I share our thoughts of returning to Africa with friends?" I had asked Janet. "Yes, with closer friends, but not everyone because it may cause them to become unsettled. You're going to have to begin to put out feelers and talk to people because things won't just happen by themselves. You will have to make them happen".
It was on Sunday morning that Graham and Lisa Stevenson had spoken at the morning church meeting we attend about the parable of the talents and I had felt strongly affected by his words not to bury what we had in the ground.
So after writing this, making a hot drink, and talking to the Lord about it, I returned to bed.
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Three Cups of Tea
2006 Greg Mortenson
ISBN 978-0-141-03426-3
From the jacket - 'In 1993, after a terrifying and disastrous attempt to climb K2, a mountaineer called Greg Mortenson drifted, cold and dehydrated, into an impoverished Pakistan village in the Karakoram Mountains. Moved by the inhabitants' kindness, he promised to return and build a school. Three Cups of Tea is the story of that promise and its extraordinary outcome. Over the next decade Mortenson built not just one but fifty-five schools in remote villages across the forbidding and breathtaking landscape of Pakistan and Afghanistan, just as the Taliban rose to power. His story is at once a riveting adventure and a testament to the power of the humanitarian spirit'.
According to the book, in 1962, Mortenson's parents moved to Moshi in Tanzania to work as Lutheran missionaries. While his father Dempsey threw everything he had into raising money for and founding Tanzania's first teaching hospital Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), his mother established the Moshi International School for expatriates' children. When KCMC was up and partially running, against the wishes of others on the board, Dempsey focussed on offering medical scholarships to promising local students. When the 640-bed hospital was completed, Julius Nyereri spoke at the official opening and Dempsey predicted "In ten years time, the head of every department of KCMC will be a Tanzanian".
It was from this background that Mortensen came. The book shows that, in process of time, he came into a tremendous sense of calling and purpose that drove him on through trials and testings that you would normally read about only in Christian books about pioneer missionaries. In fact you may suppose as the story unfolds that Mortenson is being led by the Holy Spirit who is putting situations and people into his path at exactly the right time (divine appointments), and yet Mortenson becomes acceptable to tribal leaders in Pakistan and Afghanistan precisely because he does not exhibit trappings of Christianity, is a circumspect man of integrity, does not drink alcohol, and is strongly moral and respectful.
Tribal leaders checked him out very carefully before they gave him their support and gave it once they were convinced that to their minds he was not a Christian and not a degenerate westerner. And when they gave him their support it was wholehearted, even though he was an American and found sometimes to have friends among the US military.
This is a very remarkable book showing as it does the remarkable wisdom of God in using a nothing - Greg Mortenson - to bring help to Pakistan and Afghanistan where western governments appeared to have little or no impact - completely out of proportion to their vast resources.
The sequel, Stones into Schools, is every bit as interesting to read. 'In this dramatic first-person narrative, Greg Mortenson picks up where Three Cups of Tea left off in 2003, recounting his relentless, ongoing efforts to establish schools for girls in Afghanistan; his extensive work in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan after a massive earthquake hit the region in 2005; and the unique ways he has built relationships with Islamic clerics, militia commanders, and tribal leaders even as he was dodging shootouts with feuding Afghan warlords and surviving an eight-day armed abduction by the Taliban. He shares for the first time his broader vision to promote peace through education and literacy, as well as touching on military matters, Islam, and women – all woven together with the many rich personal stories of the people who have been involved in this remarkable two-decade humanitarian effort'.
About the Author: Greg Mortenson is a former mountaineer and ER nurse, and is cofounding Director of the Central Asia Institute, raising $2.8 million dollars each year through tireless campaigning for modest individual donations. His previous book Three Cups of Tea has sold over 3 million copies in the US. He is the recipient of Pakistan’s highest civil award (The Star of Pakistan) for his sixteen years work to promote education and peace in the region. He lives in Montana with his family.
ISBN 978-0-141-03426-3
From the jacket - 'In 1993, after a terrifying and disastrous attempt to climb K2, a mountaineer called Greg Mortenson drifted, cold and dehydrated, into an impoverished Pakistan village in the Karakoram Mountains. Moved by the inhabitants' kindness, he promised to return and build a school. Three Cups of Tea is the story of that promise and its extraordinary outcome. Over the next decade Mortenson built not just one but fifty-five schools in remote villages across the forbidding and breathtaking landscape of Pakistan and Afghanistan, just as the Taliban rose to power. His story is at once a riveting adventure and a testament to the power of the humanitarian spirit'.
According to the book, in 1962, Mortenson's parents moved to Moshi in Tanzania to work as Lutheran missionaries. While his father Dempsey threw everything he had into raising money for and founding Tanzania's first teaching hospital Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), his mother established the Moshi International School for expatriates' children. When KCMC was up and partially running, against the wishes of others on the board, Dempsey focussed on offering medical scholarships to promising local students. When the 640-bed hospital was completed, Julius Nyereri spoke at the official opening and Dempsey predicted "In ten years time, the head of every department of KCMC will be a Tanzanian".
It was from this background that Mortensen came. The book shows that, in process of time, he came into a tremendous sense of calling and purpose that drove him on through trials and testings that you would normally read about only in Christian books about pioneer missionaries. In fact you may suppose as the story unfolds that Mortenson is being led by the Holy Spirit who is putting situations and people into his path at exactly the right time (divine appointments), and yet Mortenson becomes acceptable to tribal leaders in Pakistan and Afghanistan precisely because he does not exhibit trappings of Christianity, is a circumspect man of integrity, does not drink alcohol, and is strongly moral and respectful.
Tribal leaders checked him out very carefully before they gave him their support and gave it once they were convinced that to their minds he was not a Christian and not a degenerate westerner. And when they gave him their support it was wholehearted, even though he was an American and found sometimes to have friends among the US military.
This is a very remarkable book showing as it does the remarkable wisdom of God in using a nothing - Greg Mortenson - to bring help to Pakistan and Afghanistan where western governments appeared to have little or no impact - completely out of proportion to their vast resources.
The sequel, Stones into Schools, is every bit as interesting to read. 'In this dramatic first-person narrative, Greg Mortenson picks up where Three Cups of Tea left off in 2003, recounting his relentless, ongoing efforts to establish schools for girls in Afghanistan; his extensive work in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan after a massive earthquake hit the region in 2005; and the unique ways he has built relationships with Islamic clerics, militia commanders, and tribal leaders even as he was dodging shootouts with feuding Afghan warlords and surviving an eight-day armed abduction by the Taliban. He shares for the first time his broader vision to promote peace through education and literacy, as well as touching on military matters, Islam, and women – all woven together with the many rich personal stories of the people who have been involved in this remarkable two-decade humanitarian effort'.
About the Author: Greg Mortenson is a former mountaineer and ER nurse, and is cofounding Director of the Central Asia Institute, raising $2.8 million dollars each year through tireless campaigning for modest individual donations. His previous book Three Cups of Tea has sold over 3 million copies in the US. He is the recipient of Pakistan’s highest civil award (The Star of Pakistan) for his sixteen years work to promote education and peace in the region. He lives in Montana with his family.
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Promised Land: the future of Israel revealed in prophecy
1982 Derek Prince
ISBN 0-8007-9389-7
Some years ago I realised that, although Israel is prominent in both Old and New Testament scriptures, my knowledge of it was sadly lacking, and the time had come to correct this.
In 1948, the state of Israel came back into existence after a gap of almost 1900 years. This in itself is very remarkable, but it is predicted by scripture that this would happen. Indeed, it may come as a surprise to learn that the Earl of Shaftesbury, Benjamin Disraeli, Robert Browning, George Eliot, John Adams and other Victorians supported the concept of a restored Jewish state and that the Britain government of the time, through the Balfour Declaration of 1917, also expressed strong support.
On 14 May 1948, Israel declared Independence, and armies from Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria began a war to destroy it which eventually ended with Israel increasing it's territory. Attacks upon Israel continued over the years, the Six-Day War in 1967 being marked by the same kind of miraculous elements as the War of Independence.
Derek Prince always writes carefully, accurately and honestly, and this book is particularly interesting because he was an eye-witness of events leading up to the founding of Israel in 1948, being a resident of Palestine at that time.
The book contains:
However, I like the scripturally developed arguments for the establishment of the State of Israel, and am personally persuaded by what I read in the Bible that the Lord will return to Israel on the Mount of Olives at a future date, and that the history of the world will therefore continue to revolve around Israel.
For a simple introduction to Israel, I recommend this book as a useful, and considered approach.
ISBN 0-8007-9389-7
Some years ago I realised that, although Israel is prominent in both Old and New Testament scriptures, my knowledge of it was sadly lacking, and the time had come to correct this.
In 1948, the state of Israel came back into existence after a gap of almost 1900 years. This in itself is very remarkable, but it is predicted by scripture that this would happen. Indeed, it may come as a surprise to learn that the Earl of Shaftesbury, Benjamin Disraeli, Robert Browning, George Eliot, John Adams and other Victorians supported the concept of a restored Jewish state and that the Britain government of the time, through the Balfour Declaration of 1917, also expressed strong support.
On 14 May 1948, Israel declared Independence, and armies from Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria began a war to destroy it which eventually ended with Israel increasing it's territory. Attacks upon Israel continued over the years, the Six-Day War in 1967 being marked by the same kind of miraculous elements as the War of Independence.
Derek Prince always writes carefully, accurately and honestly, and this book is particularly interesting because he was an eye-witness of events leading up to the founding of Israel in 1948, being a resident of Palestine at that time.
The book contains:
- Part 1: Historical Perspective
- Part 2: Prophetic Fulfilment
- Part 3: Chronology of events in Israel from 1947 to 2004
However, I like the scripturally developed arguments for the establishment of the State of Israel, and am personally persuaded by what I read in the Bible that the Lord will return to Israel on the Mount of Olives at a future date, and that the history of the world will therefore continue to revolve around Israel.
For a simple introduction to Israel, I recommend this book as a useful, and considered approach.
Monday, 15 February 2010
The Ekklesia of God
Recently, having had more time to think, I have become aware of assumptions that I had previously made. Many of our views and opinions we borrow from others, assuming their ideas to be correct. When we start to think for ourselves, we may discover that, along with others, we have accepted a myth.
You can't change the world single-handed. And of course even Jesus Christ himself never tried to do that. In fact he warned that, when it has served its purpose, the world will be discarded, which will come as rather a shock to those who are still trying to save it.
But if you cannot change the world, you can develop your understanding of it by reference to the clear information laid out by God in Old and New Testaments.
Recently I turned my attention to the subject of the 'church'. It came as a surprise to me to discover by reference to the 'Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words' by W E Vine, that 'church' translates a number of words that would be better translated individually rather than being mixed together like a stew that no longer tastes of any of its constituent vegetables.
What is 'church'. We all use the word freely, but do you have any idea what it really means? In the New Testament, the Greek word translated 'church' is 'ekklesia' from where we get our word 'ecclesiastical'. 'Ekklesia' means 'called out', so the 'ekklesia' are those who have been 'called out'. So should we read through the New Testament substituting 'those called out' wherever we hit the word 'ekklesia/church'? Try it to see what it reads like!
So if God is speaking of those who have been called out, from what are they called out? Out of the world? What is the world, and how can anyone be called out from it? Because no one has gone anywhere; everyone is still here.
Before I go any further, it is important to note that the whole emphasis in the New Testament is on personal dealings with God. People are called individually by God, and although in some cultures a group decision may be made, if God 'calls' us out of the world, it is something that will affect each person individually because we hear individually (surprise-surprise). It cannot be a shared call, and a person hears and has to respond to the call individually, however it may appear culturally. Therefore I am not happy to jump straight to ekklesia = assembly or congregation. I have to stay with 'ekklesia' = 'called out' and try to think things through from there.
In the bible the 'world', or 'kosmos' in the Greek, refers to the entire framework or arrangement in which we live. It is used to refer to the heavenly bodies, the earth, and all the structures both social and material that exist on the earth and which we inhabit in the process of living our lives from day to day.
Many aspects of the world are very beautiful because they have been made by God, and the stamp of God's workmanship and His abundant love for us are everywhere to be seen. From raspberries that are good to eat, and lakes that are good to swim in on a hot day, to beautiful buildings, music or a good book by a fireside in winter there are countless beautiful things in the world.
But because there is an enemy operating in the world, and because man is fallen, in everything in the world there are also traps for the unwary. So we read the warning in 1 John 2.15 to "love not the world, neither the things in the world" because in becoming absorbed in the creation we will begin to forget the Creator, to forget His love for us, and to neglect the imperative to grow daily in our relationship with, and our dependence upon, Him.
So we understand that, living in this world, at the same time as we continue to fulfil our proper responsibilities to people and to institutions in our society, God calls us out from involvement in sin and the devil's agenda in the world. So we speak of being 'in' the world, but not being 'of' the world.
Now, God made the world originally and expects everyone born into it to live in it until they die, just as He did in the person of Jesus Christ. But he also calls everyone to live as He did when he was on the earth, denying selfish desire and obeying God. And he has given his Holy Spirit to make all this possible for us. Without the Holy Spirit living inside us, this is a forlorn hope, because we lack the required internal guidance system which will make us able to live in this way.
It is quite amazing to read John 16 and 17 as Jesus tells his disciples that He is going to shortly leave them and return to the Father. He makes constant references to the world in his high-priestly prayer:
You can't change the world single-handed. And of course even Jesus Christ himself never tried to do that. In fact he warned that, when it has served its purpose, the world will be discarded, which will come as rather a shock to those who are still trying to save it.
But if you cannot change the world, you can develop your understanding of it by reference to the clear information laid out by God in Old and New Testaments.
Recently I turned my attention to the subject of the 'church'. It came as a surprise to me to discover by reference to the 'Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words' by W E Vine, that 'church' translates a number of words that would be better translated individually rather than being mixed together like a stew that no longer tastes of any of its constituent vegetables.
What is 'church'. We all use the word freely, but do you have any idea what it really means? In the New Testament, the Greek word translated 'church' is 'ekklesia' from where we get our word 'ecclesiastical'. 'Ekklesia' means 'called out', so the 'ekklesia' are those who have been 'called out'. So should we read through the New Testament substituting 'those called out' wherever we hit the word 'ekklesia/church'? Try it to see what it reads like!
So if God is speaking of those who have been called out, from what are they called out? Out of the world? What is the world, and how can anyone be called out from it? Because no one has gone anywhere; everyone is still here.
Before I go any further, it is important to note that the whole emphasis in the New Testament is on personal dealings with God. People are called individually by God, and although in some cultures a group decision may be made, if God 'calls' us out of the world, it is something that will affect each person individually because we hear individually (surprise-surprise). It cannot be a shared call, and a person hears and has to respond to the call individually, however it may appear culturally. Therefore I am not happy to jump straight to ekklesia = assembly or congregation. I have to stay with 'ekklesia' = 'called out' and try to think things through from there.
In the bible the 'world', or 'kosmos' in the Greek, refers to the entire framework or arrangement in which we live. It is used to refer to the heavenly bodies, the earth, and all the structures both social and material that exist on the earth and which we inhabit in the process of living our lives from day to day.
Many aspects of the world are very beautiful because they have been made by God, and the stamp of God's workmanship and His abundant love for us are everywhere to be seen. From raspberries that are good to eat, and lakes that are good to swim in on a hot day, to beautiful buildings, music or a good book by a fireside in winter there are countless beautiful things in the world.
But because there is an enemy operating in the world, and because man is fallen, in everything in the world there are also traps for the unwary. So we read the warning in 1 John 2.15 to "love not the world, neither the things in the world" because in becoming absorbed in the creation we will begin to forget the Creator, to forget His love for us, and to neglect the imperative to grow daily in our relationship with, and our dependence upon, Him.
So we understand that, living in this world, at the same time as we continue to fulfil our proper responsibilities to people and to institutions in our society, God calls us out from involvement in sin and the devil's agenda in the world. So we speak of being 'in' the world, but not being 'of' the world.
Now, God made the world originally and expects everyone born into it to live in it until they die, just as He did in the person of Jesus Christ. But he also calls everyone to live as He did when he was on the earth, denying selfish desire and obeying God. And he has given his Holy Spirit to make all this possible for us. Without the Holy Spirit living inside us, this is a forlorn hope, because we lack the required internal guidance system which will make us able to live in this way.
It is quite amazing to read John 16 and 17 as Jesus tells his disciples that He is going to shortly leave them and return to the Father. He makes constant references to the world in his high-priestly prayer:
John 16
8. when the Holy Spirit is come, He will reprove the world28. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father33. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world
John 17
6. Father, you gave me men out of the world8. I pray for them; I do not pray for the world11. and now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world12. while I was with them in the world, I guarded them13. these things I speak in the world14. the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world15. I pray not that you should take them out of the world, but that you should guard them from the evil16. they are not of the world even as I am not of the world18. as you have sent me into the world so have I sent them into the world21. that they may be one in us that the world may believe that you have sent me23. that the world may know that you have sent me25. Father, the world has not known thee, but I have known thee
As we all know we enter the world when we are born, and subsequently become one of God's 'called out ones'. We do not become part of any organisation or anything else thing that can be seen. We are strictly identifiable only by a radical life style of obedience to a pure, holy and loving God. "By their fruits you shall know them".
So what is this 'Church' that we hear about and that even has members in Parliament? And in what sense can it claim to represent God on the earth? There may be some difficulty understanding how it fits in. However, if people want to set up an organisation to represent their concerns to government, they are perfectly free to do so. But it is then a political organisation, not God's church, even though many of the people in the organisation may also be members of God's ekklesia.
Likewise the scriptures encourage God's ekklesia to organise themselves for their own welfare, social relief, advance in learning, godliness and general progress, meeting regularly together whenever an opportunity presents itself and people feel that it will be useful. In the process, as they turn their hearts to God, looking to Him for daily direction and feeding, and thanking him for daily provision, how naturally they will open their hearts to him in songs and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to Him as they love and worship Him.
They will recognise the need for constant adjustment in patterns and situations as they respond to changes in the world around them. They will be sensitive to the ease with which human nature slides towards comfort, habit or protectionism (including monasticism and ghetto mentality). They will be exercised regularly and uncomfortably to meet the needs of people all around them who are either on the same pilgrimage, or perhaps are about to step out on it.
In any town of an size in the UK, in the context of the ekklesia, there is any amount of scope for gatherings that will focus on the needs of, for example:
Is there a place therefore for the monolithic bandwagons that we casually call churches? The answer is Yes and No. Where a 'church' has become so unresponsive to genuine need, hopefully people will gradually desert it, the dinosaur starving to death and it's shell being used to store furniture or to make someone a nice house.
The problem lies more in the middle area where the bandwagon is no longer as relevant as it used to be. It either needs to become more relevant or to be shut down if those responsible for it have become too entrenched to adapt. People easily become traditional, denominational or entrenched, even as they cry "we are not traditional, we are not a denomination, we are not entrenched!" They may continue to bash on about the Holy Spirit being in control, but if the needs of the ekklesia are not being met, the Holy Spirit is not in control, because His will is to meet the needs of people. "'When He is come, He will lead you into all truth." There's no wriggling. "By their works you shall know them." Jesus said so.
So what is this 'Church' that we hear about and that even has members in Parliament? And in what sense can it claim to represent God on the earth? There may be some difficulty understanding how it fits in. However, if people want to set up an organisation to represent their concerns to government, they are perfectly free to do so. But it is then a political organisation, not God's church, even though many of the people in the organisation may also be members of God's ekklesia.
Likewise the scriptures encourage God's ekklesia to organise themselves for their own welfare, social relief, advance in learning, godliness and general progress, meeting regularly together whenever an opportunity presents itself and people feel that it will be useful. In the process, as they turn their hearts to God, looking to Him for daily direction and feeding, and thanking him for daily provision, how naturally they will open their hearts to him in songs and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to Him as they love and worship Him.
They will recognise the need for constant adjustment in patterns and situations as they respond to changes in the world around them. They will be sensitive to the ease with which human nature slides towards comfort, habit or protectionism (including monasticism and ghetto mentality). They will be exercised regularly and uncomfortably to meet the needs of people all around them who are either on the same pilgrimage, or perhaps are about to step out on it.
In any town of an size in the UK, in the context of the ekklesia, there is any amount of scope for gatherings that will focus on the needs of, for example:
- middle class people struggling with mid-life crises
- working people who regularly end up with the short economic straw and are least able to cope with it
- doctors and nurses with irregular shifts who need to resolve medical ethical dilemmas
- people who cannot manage their own finances
- students from overseas living in the UK
- counselling sessions for people with more personal needs
- Alpha meetings to lay down Christian basics and to help people to begin to engage with God
- Bible teaching for people ready to understand more of God's plan for their lives
- mission meetings to direct vision more broadly into gospel opportunities in the world
- groups to focus on the challenges of keeping pure in commerce, or coping with the temptations of international travel
- teach-ins about the bringing up children
- social contact and support for those recovering from depression
- lunchtime gatherings for Christians who work in the same company
- business lunches for businessmen to take associates to
- relaxation with others over a coffee while shopping in town
- Friday lunch together with office friends who don't want to go down to the pub with the others
- for students from overseas - coach trips to places of especial interest and hospitality in Christian homes
Is there a place therefore for the monolithic bandwagons that we casually call churches? The answer is Yes and No. Where a 'church' has become so unresponsive to genuine need, hopefully people will gradually desert it, the dinosaur starving to death and it's shell being used to store furniture or to make someone a nice house.
The problem lies more in the middle area where the bandwagon is no longer as relevant as it used to be. It either needs to become more relevant or to be shut down if those responsible for it have become too entrenched to adapt. People easily become traditional, denominational or entrenched, even as they cry "we are not traditional, we are not a denomination, we are not entrenched!" They may continue to bash on about the Holy Spirit being in control, but if the needs of the ekklesia are not being met, the Holy Spirit is not in control, because His will is to meet the needs of people. "'When He is come, He will lead you into all truth." There's no wriggling. "By their works you shall know them." Jesus said so.
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