Sad World News..... Callenge

Sadly I saw this this morning and felt I needed to use my right to freedom and blog. Not.to start a political debate, but to just show support to Christians around the world that do not have the right to speak out.

Various sources have received independent confirmation from inside Syria that these men were former Muslims that had converted to Christianity, Illinois Review reports. They were not ‘..rebel fighters from a rival faction..’ as many news outlets are reporting.
Each of the 8 men were charged with the crime of apostasy for renouncing Islam and converting to Christianity. When confronted by the ISIS members, they refused to “revert” to Islam.
This is the “only” reason they were crucified. According to Islamic jurisprudence, crucifixion is a method of death reserved for Christians. They do not crucify other Muslims.

This picture that accompanied the story shocked me and left a bad feeling in me which I can only explain as both sad and angry.

 

Please understand however this is not the I am not pointing the finger a Muslims as my under standing of the Muslim is one of love and peace and I know Muslims that would be feelings the same way as I am.

 

 

As a Christian living in the UK, I am free to right this blog as to are many other people of different faiths aloud to have freedom of speech. Great Britain being dubbed a multi cultural society, we should be proud of the fact that our little island is run on Christian values which include love, peace and tolerance.

 

 

Sure many will disagree with me but look at it this way, we do not judge or deny people of different faith the right to practise their faith and beliefs. Just as Jesus spoke about everyone being Gods children and the fact he loves everyone. Here in the UK we also give everyone the equal right to Worship and be part of different faiths.

 

Lets go back to Syria. I don't really know much about this place but it shocks me to think that in 2014 this type of thing still goes on. It mirrors the death of Jesus who was killed in the same way because he spoke out and claimed he was the Son of God.

 

As we go about our daily lives aloud to have our own opinions, free to go around the UK without being questioned, free to have our own space, free to speak to anyone we want, and free to share our beliefs with others. Just remember these 8 Christians that (like so many others around the world) didn't have that freedom but spoke out anyway because of their faith in God.

 

We have a unique opportunity to teach and share our faith with people and maybe sometimes we don't do it as much as we should. This may sound really crazy but as a Christian Id like to challenge myself and others to speaking out to at least 8 people this week about our faith. Maybe this way the 8 Christians that died in Syria can have a voice as we use our right to speak for them.

 

 

 

Simple Times

I writing this blog by Candle Light as we are awayin the caravanfor the weekend

My boys are in bed andits boiling hot, all i can hear is the odd mumble of people outsideand the cars on a distant road going past. Looking outside I can see lightning in the distance and a few other caravan lights on around the site.

Sometimes the simple things can be the most important, and time with my boys is so great that is pretty much the only time In life I feel blessed by God.

Sadly at the moment I dont share that time with anyone else, and its sad that these memoriesare ones only I will cherrish (although I hope the boys do too)

Its at these times I feel the need to be close to God. Its so hard being a single dadon weekends filled with couples and families.

Wehen I am away from home and with the boys I praythat this is not what God has planned. I hope he has so much more instore for me and will renew the family life I loved so much, and to share those memorys once more.

As the candle flickers I am reminded that God isnt complex, and asking so much from him may seem impossible yet is so simple for him.

Why come today?

So the football World Cup has been and gone and as we all well know Germany beat Argentina in the final by a goal in extra time.

It's was dubbed one of the best world cups for many years with surprises coming throughout. Firstly Spain, Italy, Portugal and England failed to make the 2nd round. Then a couple of lower teams did. Then some injuries and host nation Brazil lost 7-1 to Germany in the semi finals.

I think eventful is a better word than exciting, but I'm one that thiinks the real World Cup is next year as the Rugby world nations come together.

Wether your a football fan, rugby fan or not, there's no denying that these events attract billions of people from all over the world and apart from the odd few people, on the whole it seems to bring people and nations together.

In today's media drive world we can have up to the minuet news anytime we like. When a leader or royalty of a nation speaks we hear it and see it as it happens. Most impressively was way back in 1969 when man walked on the moon ( before my time I might add).

So if we talk about eternity and how many millions of years ago the planet was formed and that we have such a small window of opportunity which is 2 to 3 thousand years, why did Jesus come when he did? Why not wait till the sermon on the mount could have been live streamed or pay as you view miracles? The answer to that is one that I can only try to guess.

See Jesus mentioned the fact that he who sees and believes are blessed, but those who don't see yet believe are moe blessed.

Maybe God knew what was going on in this 21st century world with internet and SoCal media. Maybe the better plan was to come in a less populated time visiting a world that was simple and could be helped more.

Maybe today we are so fixated in the material life we would fail to see this man as we sit in front of the games machine, TV or computer. Maybe we wouldn't notice him as we drive round in our cars and stay in our cosy homes.

It would be sad to not recognise Jesus or to even see him there. It would be sad to think we wouldn't see Jesus because we are so wrapped up in soup operas, chat shows and games shows.

It would be sad to not see Jesus because we are watching sport, eating  take aways and meeting in bars and clubs.

Sadly even sadder all these things are already what we are doing, everyday. Not acknowledging Jesus, not giving hime time and not trusting him.

Always The Same

Well its been a while..... all I can say is when I don't seem to have any inspiration I just cant Blog. Anyway I guess Inspiration has come this week in the shape of a Christian stranger and an old friend.

I meet up with an old friend I had not seen for over 15 years. Straight away we started chatting about life and old times, people we know, and generally chilling out and having a laugh.

Then the next day I meet a guy who when I said I was a Christian he told me he was too, I cant say to much as I don't know this guy, but lets just say I believe God had a hand in us meeting.

This reminded me of the fact the bible tells us that God is the same today as he was years ago and will be the same forever. Just because we cant see it for ourselves doesn't mean he has forgotten us.

How many times have I heard "God? What god? Or "What has god ever done for me?". Well I for one have found myself saying that on more than one occasion. 

I've not blogged for ages and once again it's because I've been probably saying those statements recently. Infact just recently Its felt like God has ripped everything away. All the faith and hope I had was takes and lost in one foul swoop.

It's at this point  guessed the option was clear. Forget all of it and give up on life or dig in and hold on to the smallest of hope and put my trust in that guy that hasn't forgotten of swept you aside but has unbeknown by me been there to help keep you balanced as you walk on even the narrowest of edges.

Now I know a lot of non Christians read this and most that do seem to understand the reasoning behind the blog. However there are those that don't, there are those that mock it and those that see me as just nutty. But if your reading this, don't discount god when all goes bad, explore him and when you truly seek him you'll find him.

WWJD

WWJD stands for what would Jesus do. A few years ago I heard about this being a question that many Christians where challenged to ask the self at one of those big event, and sometimes I find myself asking that same question.

I was at work and a police officer came into the shop asking if we had a ladder, we didn't but as a nosey nieghbour I had to look out the window to see why they may have needed one. Hey it's not a normal request from a police officer.

Looking out I saw the lady across the road sitting at her door looking very stressed and upset. I know the ladie has a drinking problem and is always running into difficult situations due to her drinking. As I looked out I noticed one police officer was trying to calm the lady as she sat upset on her door step.

I know from the past this lady doesn't like the police to much and wondered if I should go and see if she was ok. Then I thought maybe I should just leave them all to it as was none of my business and not my problem. That's when I thought about WWJD.

So, what would Jesus have done? Well I guess from the story's of him in the bible he would have gone to talk to the lady. He would have gone and offered the lady compassion and shown here respect. So at that moment I walk over to the lady that was sitting on her door step with her head in hands and looking very upset.

Some might say I should have ignored it, after all it wasn't my job to lend her support. It wasn'ty place to go and help. But for some reason I did. And I found a very upset, stressed and scared neighbour in need of a hug and a police officer in need of one of the ladies stiff drinks.

Sure I could of ignored it and got on with my Dailey schedual but I think it was my place to lend a hand. I was there not as a copper in uniform or a person wanting to moan at her, I was just there as a nieghbour to calm the lady and to be a friend.

A bit in the bible says something along the linds of when we give to charity we give to God, when we help others we help god as we are his hands and feet.

What would Jesus do? What Jesus does is shown compassion. What Jesus does is lend a hand or offer a listening ear!