The use and abuse of power has been everywhere in the news lately.
The jailing in Iran of the journalist, Roxana Saberi, is evidence of power being wielded in the cause of either justice or injustice, depending on whose side you take.
The liberation from Somali pirates of Sea Captain Richard Phillips by US Navy seals, and then of 20 Yemeni fishermen by Dutch forces saw power being used in the cause of freedom.
President Obama’s talk of a ‘new beginning’ with Cuba finds arguably the most powerful man in the world seeking to exercise his power in the cause of reconciliation.
Closer to home, serious questions have been raised about the extent to which some officers policing the G20 protests in London abused their power by using excessive force. And local councils face new restrictions on their surveillance powers, following accusations that they are currently abusing them.
In all of this it’s all too easy to regard God as a powerless presence in our world. However, the tales told in 2 Kings of the exploits of Elijah and Elisha confront us with the truth that God is able to work mightily in power in his world, through the presence of his Spirit.
Nowhere is this more dramatically displayed than in the resurrection of Jesus, which we celebrated last week. And according to Paul, this same power that raised Christ from the dead is now at work in us (Ephesians 1:18–21). So, like Elijah and Elisha, we have been empowered by God to make all the difference in the world.
Nigel Hopper
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Thursday, 9 April 2009
Is the world out of control?
We live in a world of unpredictable events. One in which things don’t always go according to plan.
When James Harrison’s wife walked out on him after an argument at their trailer park home in Washington state, how could she have known that a few hours later he would shoot their five children, before turning the gun on himself?
When North Korea launched their rocket on Sunday, it became apparent to the international community that their warnings hadn’t been heeded as they’d hoped and planned.
And we may yet discover that the launch itself didn’t go quite as planned.When the Bond Super Puma helicopter left BP’s Miller oilfield last Wednesday, the 16 people on board could never have known that it was a journey they wouldn’t survive. And nor, of course, could their families and friends.
Who could have predicted that Gavin and Stacey star, Matthew Horne, would collapse on stage last week?
Who could have foreseen that Lewis Hamilton would end up being disqualified from the Australian Grand Prix?
And how could Madonna have known that when she flew out of Malawi on Sunday, her plans to adopt a second child from that country would be hanging in the balance?
Have faith
There is no getting away from the fact that much of the time we experience life as a seemingly random series of events, over which neither we, nor anyone else has any control. There are those for whom this perceived randomness is an insurmountable barrier to faith.
At times we might wonder if we shouldn’t count ourselves among them.
Reading John 18 and 19, however, we find ourselves summoned afresh to faith. Narrating the events of Easter from Gethsemane to Golgotha to the grave, John repeatedly reassures us that everything that happened to Jesus was in accordance with God’s plan and purpose. And Jesus knew it.
God is in control! If we seek him in the events of our day, we will surely find him. Just as Jesus found him even in the agonies of Easter.
Nigel Hopper
When James Harrison’s wife walked out on him after an argument at their trailer park home in Washington state, how could she have known that a few hours later he would shoot their five children, before turning the gun on himself?
When North Korea launched their rocket on Sunday, it became apparent to the international community that their warnings hadn’t been heeded as they’d hoped and planned.
And we may yet discover that the launch itself didn’t go quite as planned.When the Bond Super Puma helicopter left BP’s Miller oilfield last Wednesday, the 16 people on board could never have known that it was a journey they wouldn’t survive. And nor, of course, could their families and friends.
Who could have predicted that Gavin and Stacey star, Matthew Horne, would collapse on stage last week?
Who could have foreseen that Lewis Hamilton would end up being disqualified from the Australian Grand Prix?
And how could Madonna have known that when she flew out of Malawi on Sunday, her plans to adopt a second child from that country would be hanging in the balance?
Have faith
There is no getting away from the fact that much of the time we experience life as a seemingly random series of events, over which neither we, nor anyone else has any control. There are those for whom this perceived randomness is an insurmountable barrier to faith.
At times we might wonder if we shouldn’t count ourselves among them.
Reading John 18 and 19, however, we find ourselves summoned afresh to faith. Narrating the events of Easter from Gethsemane to Golgotha to the grave, John repeatedly reassures us that everything that happened to Jesus was in accordance with God’s plan and purpose. And Jesus knew it.
God is in control! If we seek him in the events of our day, we will surely find him. Just as Jesus found him even in the agonies of Easter.
Nigel Hopper
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Pride in perspective
This week London will host the G20 summit, a meeting of leaders from the world’s most powerful nations who between them represent 85 per cent of the world’s economy.
It is hoped that the summit will yield initiatives to tackle the current global financial crisis, and also agree measures to prevent a future crisis. There is a real sense in which those who sit around the G20 table hold the world’s economic future in their hands, so they should certainly take their responsibilities very seriously.
And yet, formed in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis back in 1999, the very existence of the G20 constitutes an acknowledgement that our economic powers can be rendered powerless by events, and so seek strength in numbers and cooperation.
Both Obadiah and Nahum would want to remind G20 members that it is ultimately God who holds the destiny of nations in his hands and ought to be acknowledged as such.
Like the G20 countries, Lewis Hamilton knows what it is to experience a downturn in fortunes. The defending Formula 1 world champion started Sunday’s Australian Grand prix back in 18th place on the grid, his McLaren car being woefully off the pace in qualifying.
Nevertheless, Hamilton eventually finished third, and commenting on the race said, ‘by the grace of God I managed to bring the car home’. Obadiah and Nahum would applaud his perspective, and the complete absence of arrogance that characterises Hamilton’s approach to his achievements as a result.
This in stark contrast to the arrogance of the now disgraced financial traders who once proclaimed themselves the ‘masters of universe’; the irony of which would not be lost on Obadiah or Nahum!
Nigel Hopper
It is hoped that the summit will yield initiatives to tackle the current global financial crisis, and also agree measures to prevent a future crisis. There is a real sense in which those who sit around the G20 table hold the world’s economic future in their hands, so they should certainly take their responsibilities very seriously.
And yet, formed in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis back in 1999, the very existence of the G20 constitutes an acknowledgement that our economic powers can be rendered powerless by events, and so seek strength in numbers and cooperation.
Both Obadiah and Nahum would want to remind G20 members that it is ultimately God who holds the destiny of nations in his hands and ought to be acknowledged as such.
Like the G20 countries, Lewis Hamilton knows what it is to experience a downturn in fortunes. The defending Formula 1 world champion started Sunday’s Australian Grand prix back in 18th place on the grid, his McLaren car being woefully off the pace in qualifying.
Nevertheless, Hamilton eventually finished third, and commenting on the race said, ‘by the grace of God I managed to bring the car home’. Obadiah and Nahum would applaud his perspective, and the complete absence of arrogance that characterises Hamilton’s approach to his achievements as a result.
This in stark contrast to the arrogance of the now disgraced financial traders who once proclaimed themselves the ‘masters of universe’; the irony of which would not be lost on Obadiah or Nahum!
Nigel Hopper
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Mamma Mia! Manna's insect goo?
On the 28th January one of the WordLive writers suggested the Manna that sustained the Israelites in the desert was insect goo. It certainly wouldn't have counted as one of their five-a-day. Locusts are well known as being on the biblical menu, but that is normally for the prophetic elite. One of our readers spotted this and asked the following question.
Well, not shy of a challenge, we sent out intrepid biblical expert into the jungle of theological tomes in the corner of the office. Several weeks later he emerged with the information we were all waiting for. So if you want to know all there is about manna, read on.
'I wondered if you could tell me how you know that Manna was a type of insect goo. I've not heard this theory before and am curious to find out more.'
Well, not shy of a challenge, we sent out intrepid biblical expert into the jungle of theological tomes in the corner of the office. Several weeks later he emerged with the information we were all waiting for. So if you want to know all there is about manna, read on.
'Actually there have been a lot of attempts to identify manna with some natural edible substance found in the Sinai desert. To quote from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol 3, (Eerdmans, 1986), p239, ‘The most widely held theory , which has received support from scientific investigations, links manna from a secretion of the tamarisk tree (Tamarix gallica) that forms small, yellowish-white balls that are very sweet … FS Bodenheimer has argued that these are actually excretions of insects that penetrate the tender bark of the twigs, rather than a product of the tree itself.’ But since this only occurs for a few weeks every year one can’t get round the fact this was a supernatural occurrence!'So there you have it, an event more amazing than Meryl Streep starring in a musical. Manna, a gift from God.
No need to put off worrying
You don’t need Old Testament prophets around to bring a sense of gloom these days. The British Government’s chief scientist warned about the possibility of food, water and energy shortages bringing about a ‘perfect storm’ within 20 years.
He predicted that it would bring mass migration and violence on a global scale. If he’s right and if you’re not worried already, now may be the time to start.
Of course, there’s no need to wait 20 years to see the social unrest which injustice can create. Last week’s general strike in France was accompanied by riots in the streets, some of which targeted ‘anything that represented ostentatious wealth’.
The US may not have riots in the streets but there is huge public anger over bonus payments to staff at AIG, the insurance company which has been bailed out by the government. Some staff received death threats and the company warned staff not to wear the logo and to travel in pairs at night.
Legislators who rushed to approve a 90 per cent tax on these bonuses included many usually opposed to tax increases and limits on executive pay.
But alongside all of that was a great reminder that even huge injustices can be put right. After 27 years in prison, Sean Hodgson’s murder conviction was quashed thanks to new DNA evidence and he was released. I think Amos would have been pleased (Amos 5:24).
Emlyn Williams
He predicted that it would bring mass migration and violence on a global scale. If he’s right and if you’re not worried already, now may be the time to start.
Of course, there’s no need to wait 20 years to see the social unrest which injustice can create. Last week’s general strike in France was accompanied by riots in the streets, some of which targeted ‘anything that represented ostentatious wealth’.
The US may not have riots in the streets but there is huge public anger over bonus payments to staff at AIG, the insurance company which has been bailed out by the government. Some staff received death threats and the company warned staff not to wear the logo and to travel in pairs at night.
Legislators who rushed to approve a 90 per cent tax on these bonuses included many usually opposed to tax increases and limits on executive pay.
But alongside all of that was a great reminder that even huge injustices can be put right. After 27 years in prison, Sean Hodgson’s murder conviction was quashed thanks to new DNA evidence and he was released. I think Amos would have been pleased (Amos 5:24).
Emlyn Williams
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
WordLive email back to normal
It would appear that the WordLive email is back to normal. It no longer gives you the opportunity to read the Bible passage several times, and whilst we would encourage anyone to get stuck into the Bible at every opportunity, this is probably for the best.
We do apologise for the last five or so emails and hope that it hasn't harmed your WordLive experience or clogged up your inbox too much.
Normal service has been resumed.
We do apologise for the last five or so emails and hope that it hasn't harmed your WordLive experience or clogged up your inbox too much.
Normal service has been resumed.
Monday, 2 March 2009
WordLive email issue
Now, we are all for helping WordLive users to meet with God through the Bible and prayer. While some people may think that reading, then re-reading, then re-reading and finally re-reading the Bible is a good thing, (and to be honest I may agree with them) having to do this in the WordLive daily email isn't best practice.
We did (well David, our resident clever-bod did) some database upgrading to improve the search functionality on WordLive. However, it seems that this may be causing the email delivery a few issues... like making it put the Bible passage four times into an email.
This is being looked into but it may take a few days to resolve. In the meantime, please feel free to read the Bible passage as many times as you wish, but remember this increase will not continue permanently via the email. As always, we apologise for any inconvenience.
We did (well David, our resident clever-bod did) some database upgrading to improve the search functionality on WordLive. However, it seems that this may be causing the email delivery a few issues... like making it put the Bible passage four times into an email.
This is being looked into but it may take a few days to resolve. In the meantime, please feel free to read the Bible passage as many times as you wish, but remember this increase will not continue permanently via the email. As always, we apologise for any inconvenience.
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