It made me sad this week having to explain to my 9-year-old son that his pin-up hero Steven Gerrard was back in court on charges of assault. But the media loves airing the dirty laundry of these fallen celebrities.
Examples this week include headlines about singer Amy Winehouse punching someone, David Beckham getting in a debacle with a jeering fan, a 112 mph speeding nun, and the expense scandals of the BBC executives and even the Equalities and Human Rights Commissioners.
Jacob, after whom the nation of Israel was named, had undeniable celebrity status. His story continues in our Bible readings this week as more of his dirty laundry is apparently aired.
We read the grisly details of how he double-crossed his brother, exploited his father’s disability, had a bigamous relationship, and ended up with the family silver. But this is no reveling in the indiscretions of the rich and famous. This is gospel truth. So how should we react?
This week the news headlines took on personal significance for me. The deaths of children from swine flu, the hospitalised sufferers and the emergency H1N1 website which crashed because of demand on its launch became part of my story as my 3-year-old daughter and disabled 9-month-old foster daughter were diagnosed with the virus.
This is how it should feel as we read the story of Jacob. The story takes on personal significance as we struggle with all our bizarre family and work relationships.
Whether we are dealing with hopeless romantics, manipulative bosses, desperate housewives, sibling rivals or fallen heroes we can find our story in Jacob’s story, and our hope in God’s grace to a dysfunctional family.
Krish Kandiah
Krish Kandiah is Executive Director Churches in Mission at the Evangelical Alliance. He runs Slipstream the Evangelical Alliance's leadership e-letter and podcast. Sign up this month to win one of ten copies of Tim Keller's "The Prodigal God- recovering the heart of the Christian faith." http://www.eauk.org/slipstream
http://krishk.wordpress.com
Showing posts with label swine flu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swine flu. Show all posts
Monday, 27 July 2009
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
High flyer. Low flying. Swine flu
Barack Obama seemed to have a better week than Gordon Brown. The row over Air Force One flying low over Manhattan was far outweighed by generally positive assessments of Obama’s first 100 days in office. Still popular in the polls, he declared himself ‘pleased … but … not satisfied’ with his performance.
For Gordon Brown, however, it was a pretty grim week. Climb downs over MPs expenses and defeat in the Commons over the treatment of Gurkha veterans left even his own supporters calling for change.
Yet whilst politicians may be facing a ‘meltdown of trust’ we still look to them for solutions to our problems. The outbreak of swine flu – officially virus influenza A (H1N1) – is one such case.
Unfortunately for the authorities, they probably can’t win. If the outbreak is bad they will be accused of not being prepared. If we are spared the worst, they will be accused of crying wolf – one newspaper wrote about the ‘Sars and bird flu false alarms’.
The big temptation for leaders in all ages is to trust in themselves, not in God. This week’s readings illustrate that well. Ironically, with British troops having left Iraq last week after six years, 2 Kings tells of a much earlier Iraqi leader importing a foreign army to Babylon, which was in present day Iraq!
But despite the failings of leaders, these readings should not lead us to cynicism. Hezekiah looked to God for healing. Josiah rediscovered God’s law and renewed the covenant with God.
What is your prayer for Gordon Brown, Barack Obama and the other world leaders?
Emlyn Williams
For Gordon Brown, however, it was a pretty grim week. Climb downs over MPs expenses and defeat in the Commons over the treatment of Gurkha veterans left even his own supporters calling for change.
Yet whilst politicians may be facing a ‘meltdown of trust’ we still look to them for solutions to our problems. The outbreak of swine flu – officially virus influenza A (H1N1) – is one such case.
Unfortunately for the authorities, they probably can’t win. If the outbreak is bad they will be accused of not being prepared. If we are spared the worst, they will be accused of crying wolf – one newspaper wrote about the ‘Sars and bird flu false alarms’.
The big temptation for leaders in all ages is to trust in themselves, not in God. This week’s readings illustrate that well. Ironically, with British troops having left Iraq last week after six years, 2 Kings tells of a much earlier Iraqi leader importing a foreign army to Babylon, which was in present day Iraq!
But despite the failings of leaders, these readings should not lead us to cynicism. Hezekiah looked to God for healing. Josiah rediscovered God’s law and renewed the covenant with God.
What is your prayer for Gordon Brown, Barack Obama and the other world leaders?
Emlyn Williams
Monday, 27 April 2009
Hopefully devoted
Tough times challenge our resolve; and that means our trust is also challenged.
The possibility of a swine flu pandemic challenges the trust that the people of Mexico and, increasingly, of other countries around the world, have in their health ministries and in the World Health Organization.
Ongoing clashes between security forces and militants in Pakistan are challenging the trust its people placed in the peace deal that brought Sharia law to the Swat district.
Last week, the Chancellor presented his budget to the British people, arguing that the measures it contained would steer the country through the current financial crisis. As such, it was an invitation to voters to keep faith with the government despite current difficulties.
Similarly, David Cameron’s promise of an ‘age of thrift’ is a bid to convince the electorate that it is the Conservatives, rather than Labour, who can be trusted with the nation’s finances.
Hezekiah, king of Judah, was devoted to God. However, when faced with tough times, he too found his trust in God was challenged, not least by those seeking his downfall. Yet even in the midst of trying circumstances he remained devoted to God, and saw God intervene in those circumstances.
Isaiah’s prophecy of Sennacherib’s fall reminds us that God is sovereign over the events of this world. He is therefore worthy of our total trust – we cannot serve two masters – no matter how bad things seem.
As it should have been with the covenanted people of Judah, so our devotion to God should be evident in the circumstances of our everyday lives. And that includes the way we approach contemporary issues – including health, conflict, finance, debt and party politics, to name just a few.
Nigel Hopper
The possibility of a swine flu pandemic challenges the trust that the people of Mexico and, increasingly, of other countries around the world, have in their health ministries and in the World Health Organization.
Ongoing clashes between security forces and militants in Pakistan are challenging the trust its people placed in the peace deal that brought Sharia law to the Swat district.
Last week, the Chancellor presented his budget to the British people, arguing that the measures it contained would steer the country through the current financial crisis. As such, it was an invitation to voters to keep faith with the government despite current difficulties.
Similarly, David Cameron’s promise of an ‘age of thrift’ is a bid to convince the electorate that it is the Conservatives, rather than Labour, who can be trusted with the nation’s finances.
Hezekiah, king of Judah, was devoted to God. However, when faced with tough times, he too found his trust in God was challenged, not least by those seeking his downfall. Yet even in the midst of trying circumstances he remained devoted to God, and saw God intervene in those circumstances.
Isaiah’s prophecy of Sennacherib’s fall reminds us that God is sovereign over the events of this world. He is therefore worthy of our total trust – we cannot serve two masters – no matter how bad things seem.
As it should have been with the covenanted people of Judah, so our devotion to God should be evident in the circumstances of our everyday lives. And that includes the way we approach contemporary issues – including health, conflict, finance, debt and party politics, to name just a few.
Nigel Hopper
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