Blair "Terror Warning"

And so we have yet another Terror warning from Uncle Tone. Here's the dictionary definition of the word "terrorise":

v 1: coerce by violence or with threats [syn: terrorize] 2: fill with terror; frighten greatly [syn: terrify, terrorize]

So, yes, we do have hundreds of terrorists within Britain's borders. However, if you look at interpretation 2, it has to be said perhaps one of the biggest and influential terrorists lives behind a black door with No.10 stamped on it? No? I'm sorry, but the politics of fear is just as an effective terror weapon as any c4 explosive package... perhaps more so, because ideas are that powerful.

I do believe there is a real physical terrorist threat, yes of course I do. However, I believe it's being deliberately played up and the politics of fear is being played like a card to bring in REALLY dodgy measures that under normal circumstances, the general public would NEVER accept.

The thing that bothers me, is that I don't see an end to this. I don't trust any of the political parties with our democratic future at the moment. None of them seem worthy of it. I believe if you don't believe in a parties policies heart and soul, you shouldn't vote for them. Why should we have to settle for the least worst party?

I trust Gordon Brown, he seems like a man of integrity to me. However I don't see Blair standing aside until some fancier job comes along... like maybe EU President or err Supreme Potentate (that was said tongue in cheek before any eschatological fiction readers get all excited!).

What hope for this country? It's going to the dogs.

Thoughts anyone?

Christian Girls Part 2

Thanks for getting back to me Roe.


As I posted on your site, I do agree largely with what you put. Apparently the original context for the "do not be unevenly yoked" scripture, was one based on business relationships. However the principle is sound when applied to other relationships, especially intimate ones.

The key problem in this whole area is accepting who is number one in your life. In the secular world, understandably that's going to be the person you love most on this Earth. However, when you are a Christian and have a relationship with God... he's number one, and that causes an imbalance.


Only a fool, or someone heartless would knowingly seek out a relationship that would unfairly burden one or the other person with an unshared belief. However, I do believe (and it's scriptural) that people already in married relationships with non believers before they become Christians, should where possible try and stick it out. I don't believe God calls us to throw people away like rubbish. Everything we do, should be governed by spiritual discernment.

To those of us not in relationships, I believe there are two scriptures that point the attitude we should take, when looking for a prospective companion:


"“Everything is permissible”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”–but not everything is constructive."

and:


"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. "

Basically, don't knowingly go into a situation you know is not going to be constructive either for you as a person, or in your relationship with God... and secondly look for the fruits of the Spirit in a person... you tell a tree by it's fruit, not the label attached to it.


The essential thing though is to not let anything or anyone become more important than God in your heart. OK so you might not worship the Vorlon god Booji... or any other polytheistic icon... but worshipping a person, or a possession, or a job is just as much idolatry as dancing round a moose headed pole making funny noises.

Blessings to you all.



Nick

Quote


Talking about Christian girls

Hey Nick,


Thank you for your blog @ Amazing Grace. I'm glad I look suspiciously Christian. :-) Do add me. Thanks for looking me up.

As far as Christian girls go in your 20 something age group... I'm in the USA and I'm not sure that is a problem here. The 20 something group at our church is picking up momentum. Amen. I'll keep you in my prayers as The Spirit reminds me. I pray that you find the joy in love that I have found in the match God made for me, and my husband.

Blessings,


roe

Christian Girls

I've noticed something in recent years, and it's a little bit depressing. If you take a look around you in Britain today, or at least my corner of it. You don't find many Christians of my age group, even less who are girls. There seem to be many teenagers, and many 35-40 somethings.... but 25-30 uh-uh. They just drop off like some strange disease afflicted the church populous at that time.

I am beginning to think that my age group is the lost generation. It's hard to find people my age who have a solid faith, heck even a rudimentary one would do, if it showed signs of developing... but for many I bump into, faith just seems to be an accessory that they wear when it suits them.

And what infuriates me even more, is that those girls that do exist go after lads who will hurt them... people playing the field, and false Christians. There are single people I know, who will justify relationships with anyone, on the basis that they can save them for Christ. OK fine... so why can't you bring them to Christ first and then go out with them?

I learned the hard way it doesn't always work like that. for five and a half years I continued to go out with someone who lost their faith while I was going out with them. It was like a prison sentence... and I won't make that error again if I can help it.
Am I the only person who plays by the rules... if I am, then it's costing me dear, but that's no reason to stop doing it.

If you see any Christian twentysomethings, send them my regards! Heck if you are one, tell me if I'm right about the situation... is it like a wilderness where you live too?

I guess I feel like Treebeard from The Lord of the Rings, or something akin to him anyway. You know, the Ents are still kicking around but the Entwives have all cleared off to new pastures!

Regards and blessings

Nick

Human Nature

I'd like to share my views on the controlling aspect of our human nature.

Firstly I'd like to take a look at Genesis chapter 3, principally the bit where man receives his "punishment":

"Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken;for dust you are and to dust you will return."

Sometimes I wonder, just how much of that is actually punishment, and just how much is consequence of what Man had become by taking the fruit of the tree and good and evil?

What do I mean?

Well, before the Fall, everything we received came from God. but when we begin thinking like God, start developing independence, we tend so start not to rely on him.... seeking instead to provide for our own needs and the needs of those around us. With this new found ability, you might think God would be pleased at the opportunity to put his feet up.

Yet clearly in the Bible, there are instances where God provides for his people when they call on his name. The Israelites in the wilderness, Hagar and Ishmael at death's door. Over and over, when a person's own resources are spent, they call upon God and he answers.

What is the key to this? I believe the answer lies in the following passage:

"But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

What does that mean? Well think about a little child for a moment. a child cannot fend for itself, it relies up on it's parents and benefactors to provide for it, until it is ready.

I think that's what Jesus is saying. That we need to stop thinking we have to do this in our strength. That instead we should rely upon his power, trust purely in him... easier said then done, I know. However, I still believe it should be our aim.

After all, all the major instances of revival in this nation have been when people in the Church get on their knees and say sorry for trying to run God's Kingdom for him.

God is sovereign, he alone knows whats best for us as individuals and in the Church as a whole.

We don't need to be INDEPENDENT, we need to be IN DEPENDENCE.

Blessings to you

Nick

Tel Aviv

What I heard on the news sickened me last night!

When a ceasefire is in place, you hope that everyone will try and make it work. then a few brainless heartless dissidents go and jeopardise it all. Regardless of what you may believe, these people don't serve God... these people:

"Their deeds are evil deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands. Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are evil thoughts; ruin and destruction mark their ways. The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks in them will know peace."

Personally I would urge the Israeli Government not to retaliate, for as Solomon, king of Israel once wrote:

"My son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood. How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds!"

Sorry to get so heavy on a Saturday morning folks.... just hearing the news upset me. I saw Panorama once, when a reporter was allowed access to a suicide bombers training camp, and it enraged me. YOU DO NOT TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO BECOME CANNON FODDER FOR YOUR IDEALS. There was that famous poster with a toddler strapped with explosives, that was used in a recruitment campaign. Utterly disgusting and repugnant.

Both sides have treated one another terribly in the past... but when there is hope for peace, it is absolutely imperative that everyone holds their nerve.

My prayers go out to the people who have suffered on this occasion.

I know a lot of people who would say, there will never be peace in the Middle East until such and such happens. I don't like the mentality of only backing a cause you know you can win. In my mind if you believe what you are saying is right, you should stand by it even in the face of adversity... and I'm not saying you have to use violence at all. I'm saying stand by your principles and adhere to them when oppression comes, whatever form it takes... don't cave just because all the other fish are swimming the other way. What I'm saying actually is opposed to the violence we see around us. Do we do the easy thing, cave in and start blowing people up? Or do we hold to the truth, have faith in our convictions and just trust that good will win out in the end?

I'm not saying there isn't a case for resistance in some instances, but we should not yield to the impulse and temptation to resort to violence so readily.

The law of this world is "survival of the fittest", the law of God is "love your neighbour as yourself".

We must constantly choose which one to serve.

Return of the Nickmobile

The lady is back!

Sorry if you think it's a bit sexist to refer to a car in the feminine... but I don't have a problem with people personifying their cars as men, and surely if Ellen MacArthur refers to her boat as "she", then it's not really sexist. I think it's to do with your attitude towards the subject. If you see it as a control thing "you are my vehicle, I am your master" then it's sexist, but if it's just a "we're in this together" anthropomorphic personification of companionship... in my opinion that's OK.

Anyway I believe I had a gentleman's bet with you all. I said the car bill would probably balance out with the reclaimed tax I received. I was right. God is good, God provides.

I did get a bit of a scorching for not taking it in sooner though, apparently the rattle wasn't a loose bush, but the shock absorber!!!! Eeek!

Musings on God, Automobiles and the Taxman.

Well first the Good News! I managed to get one over on the Inland Revenue!

Basically they've been overcharging me for about a year now, but they've finally seen it my way and so this month i don't have to pay income tax and I get a little bit back as rebate.

However... now the bad news! My car gets serviced tomorrow. It's overdue anyway, but there is a distinct rattling in the front nearside wheel... probably just a bush... hopefully not the wheel coming off. I always get pessimistic about this sort of stuff... I'm convinced I'll need all new tyres and an exhaust, the current ones have been on for years, yet have miraculously remained roadworthy!!!!!!

I wouldn't be at all surprised, if the bill for the car hits somewhere in the region of the amount I got back from the tax office.

Have you ever seen Signs? I really enjoyed it. A lot of sci-fi fans think it's quite poor... but I think they miss the point. The film is not actually a science fiction... it merely uses science fiction as a vehicle to get the real message across. That message is best summed up in a question Mel Gibson's character asks Joaquin Phoenix:

"See what you have to ask yourself is what kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences? "


I personally don't really believe in coincidence... I believe even the seemingly random events that happen in the world happen for a greater purpose, albeit not a purpose we can always understand. It's a bit like chaos theory... you know, everything appears just haphazard and unplanned but if you look closely patterns do emerge.

Here's a clip from the climax of Signs that illustrates that point quite beautifully:

That's why I believe that things have worked out the way they have. I think God knew I
wouldn't be able to pay for my car under normal circumstances, so events that seemed annoying a year ago have worked to my favour in the end.... thanks to his grace and his planning. Well that's the way I see it.

And so I'll leave you now, with that same question:

"See what you have to ask yourself is what kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences? "

Racial Hatred Laws

I've received an e-mail from a friend of mine (thanks Em) regarding the proposed Racial Hatred laws. There are several Christian charities that are getting concerned that should the law be passed, it will severely hamper their work overseas.

Hard as it may seem for many people in the west to believe... there are places in the world where Christianity is still treated with much the same disdain that it received during the early Roman persecutions. There are places in the world where the dominant regional culture (whatever it may be) abuses or persecutes Christians and/or their places of worship.
The fear is, the wide mandate of this new law could technically make it illegal to speak out (in this country) against cultures that condone the abuse of the Church.

We should of course seek to stamp out something that discriminates against people because of their physical/ethnic background. However, I think questioning or openly criticising a persons ideas, motives and beliefs (when done respectfully and in good faith that something is badly wrong), is fair game... and I include my own beliefs, views and motives in that assessment.

I'm saying this as someone who has had to defend their faith from criticism from various quarters. People don't always agree with Christian viewpoints, and that's their prerogative. However, I'd never deny someone the right to question my faith... because then, how could I answer them?

It's for this reason I think religious tolerance should be encouraged rather than legislated.
The Christian charities are worried that they are going to face prosecution for speaking out against human injustices at the hands of religious/ideological extremists.

Incidentally for anyone wanting more info, I've added a link to the charity website Em sent me. Have a look, see for yourself and then decide on your own evaluation what to do!

N

Cowardice

I'm going to be a bit self critical here. There is a part of me that I've been mulling over the past couple of days, that I resent.

You see, when I was 22 months old, I went exploring round my Gran's bungalow and somehow managed to sneak out of sight while my Mum was distracted. I then had the REALLY clever idea of deciding to tip a teapot on top of me.

Stupid!

As a result of my escapade, I sport a small scar on my left forearm and a relatively large one on my chest.

What I find hard, is the fact that there are people out there who have no choice but to publicly sport their injuries/imperfections, and they do it bravely, nobly... and I have the utmost respect for them... and yet here am I... able to disguise the big one with a t shirt (nobody really notices the one on my arm), and because I have the option to do that, I live in total fear of what people might say if they actually saw the scar? I never take my top off in public.

Why am I like this I wonder? I never had this problem as a child, not till I was a bout 16... that's when all my hang ups emerged.

So, to all those who are brave beyond words I can express, I salute you... and can only hope that one day I can share your valour.

I am pretty weak aren't I? But this is a place to be frank and honest, and to challenge myself and others for the future. I hope I can be willing to change.

Heck even my God wears his scars openly... what kind of chicken-wuss am I?

Personality Profile - INFJ

We were chatting personality profiles at work today. It seems after answering about 100 questions, I am according to Meyer Briggs what is known in the trade as an INFJ... which apparently is a rare thing.

The scarey thing is, looking at the points in every aspect... the assessment is pretty much bang on!

INFJ Strengths

• Warm and affirming by nature
• Dedicated to achieving the ultimate relationship
• Sensitive and concerned for others' feelings
• Usually have good communication skills, especially written
• Take their commitments very seriously, and seek lifelong relationships
• Have very high expectations for themselves and others (both a strength and weakness)
• Good listeners
• Are able to move on after a relationship has ended (once they're sure it's over)

INFJ Weaknesses

• Tendency to hold back part of themselves
• Not good with money or practical day-to-day life necessities
• Extreme dislike of conflict and criticism
• Have very high expectations for themselves and others (both a strength and weakness)
• Have difficulty leaving a bad relationship
  

If you are interested in reading up more on this profile you can take a gander at these pages:

http://www.personalitypage.com/INFJ_rel.html
http://typelogic.com/infj.html
http://keirsey.com/personality/nfij.html

I'm also really inspired by the historical people who fit the character... they are excellent dudes!

Sunday Morning at church

Church was pretty inspirational today. We had a pretty charismatic old vicar in... which was really good.

The morning started badly, but once I got round to focussing on God instead of winding myself up... things were a lot better.

The gospel reading came from John chapter 3 (yup the world famous one). As these words were read out:

"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." John 3:14,15

I saw a picture of a robed man standing on a mound holding a serpent headed staff above him. He was silhouetted because it was dark and there were stormclouds behind him. But the shadows in the clouds had formed an image of Jesus crucified (visible down to the waist).

I thought that would make an excellent painting. Especially if you added a spot of lightning.

I'm pretty much a visually orientated person.

My Testimony

I thought it would be a good opportunity this afternoon, to give anyone reading this an insight into why I became a Christian. Are you sitting comfortably....?

Then I'll begin.

When I was a kid, I was raised by parents who worshipped in an Anglican church. I was in the choir and when I was very young, I'd keep asking my Dad if we could sneak out of the vestry during the sermon, as i needed the loo. However, I very rarely needed it, I actually just wanted to go and look at the big stained glass window of the crucifixion... from the other side. However, by the time I was ready to go to school, Mum and Dad didn't feel the CofE school had a decent standard of religious education. So off I was sent to a Roman Catholic school. This was really good because it meant I had to deal with two different doctrines at an early age... and it meant I questioned my faith early on.

The priest who officiated the occasional school service was a staunch believer in the ideology that "All protestants will burn in hell!!!" I sometimes wonder what he made of me? I always used to go and talk to the boys who'd been serving, and used to talk openly about God with him, and them.

Secondary school was a little different. Again, it was roman catholic, but the priest was totally different. I'd quite often go to confession, but seeing as I wasn't catholic I couldn't confess, so I just had the odd theological chat. By the end of school, the two best R.E. students were me (the Anglican, and another guy was an atheist. There's got to be some irony there.

Now, I'd say at that time, I was religious in the christian sense... but I wouldn't say my faith had become alive yet. In fact, so keen was I to protect my beliefs, I purposely made myself the school clown. I forced people to stay at arms length, because I wanted them to like me, but not love me. I really wish I hadn't done that, because it helped to cut the real me off from other people for a LONG time.

At this time, I was going to a local youth fellowship, and the free and more emotional worship was beginning to have an effect on me, but as yet I couldn't understand what changes that was bringing about within me. I think the first major step was in 1989 during the Billy Graham mission to the UK. I think that was the first time i had a real full understanding that Christianity was not man's attempt to find God, but God's mission to redeem man. Before then I'd probably have been convinced that my works on their own counted for something. I was a bit of a pharisee at school. I talked some of the things that bothered me, over with a counsellor... but most of it I spoke to God about alone (one good thing that came out of my isolationism, is that I tended to communicate with God a lot). The important thing though was that after that I started to listen to Him as well.

In 1991, upon leaving school I became quite depressed, for one reason or another (you don't really need to be burdened with that). It was during that year that after being pelted with eggs and repeatedly told to "Shut Up!", that I had a bit of a breakdown. It was then that i finally realised that the Christian walk is not one to be undertaken in your own strength. There were a few special moments that day, but my outlook for the future had changed somewhat, and the most important thing was that it started to make me more open... to start letting people into my heart... that is something that has gathered momentum in recent years.

Since then, I've made some foolish mistakes, foolish pride and shame made them last longer than they should have. However, I believe that whatever I'd done with my life, I would have ended up at the same point by about July 2003. I really feel, that the first part of my life has been a kind of "playtime" and now the real stuff begins. In some ways I don't think the Nick Payne of any year till about 2000 would recognise the Nick Payne of today. I'm a different creature. I wonder how many of my friends would make the same distinction about the changes in me?

I've changed churches a couple of times, and my role in the church and indeed the Church, has started to become much more involved. There is no feeling on earth like speaking and knowing your God is with you, or seeing something new revealed to you by God in a powerful way. I really believe we are living in exciting times... we are on the cusp of something big and wonderful. My strongest desire, is that the people around me don't miss out on God's promises.

That brings us up to the present day I think. I'll have to do something more light hearted now, because that was a mega heavy entry!

Blessings to you all!

Nick