tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53962799535556551342024-03-13T11:03:19.807-04:00Samaritan XPKen Symes: exploring the intersection of faith and cultureKen Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-28718031733157714122018-05-04T10:15:00.001-04:002018-05-15T22:19:33.166-04:00Depressed Leafs fans invited to church<h3>WEEKLY CHURCH SIGN REVIEW: St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Oshawa</h3><p><a href="http://stmatthewsoshawa.ca/" target="_blank"><img width="600" height="450" title="IMG_20180505_132943" style="border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20180505_132943" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtKjOL977RZC4C7AzrkBnimYjoPOG1KboQD5lIdWWaRPWqhmzx-oBjdjADkm8XsrZEhKXi15MEseOiC4Vp0Tpg8g-8JCVtBQRLGU7tUa4BSglFNZbsXiyqP9-ZHpJf4xVLu7qJixcJP8/?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdfkjJ3tW46nbBam5Xt6feivdexpZnin9pAYH-NrJqfBJuWTs8L5u_FdJwlleIVG-8mEC0QMl3G8XdWWzV-PI_8lDfyAyGairD0Y0w08Ty2NOrAiVa_Cf45cdf6v-YVQ34H5RQf7wdpA/s1600-h/5_Star_Rating_System_4_and_a_half_stars_T%255B4%255D"><img width="155" height="28" title="5_Star_Rating_System_4_and_a_half_stars_T" style="border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="5_Star_Rating_System_4_and_a_half_stars_T" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLEvAdM5eIeIDLqsKH9PXYFmJaAXaAolxqjQQFrbka-ABOe5HwsTf-J5CCpRYXWQroJYHNsXCvIUFG4WB5hOaHF-a6ZSCVUSvJIXOsPD_HPhPNDZdhCxmKcafU9b0wXnAuF92kBf_SYY/?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p>Toronto Maple Leaf fans were excited, cheering as the Leafs kept the series even with the Boston Bruins, hoping for the chance to see their team advance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but then they were crushed as the Leafs were defeated in Game 7 of that series. It didn’t help that the Toronto Blue Jays lost as many games as they won this week or that the Raptors also had a poor week. One church showed by their sign that they understood the pain and sorrow of Toronto fans. For that, I’m giving 4.5 stars to <a href="http://stmatthewsoshawa.ca/" target="_blank">St. Matthew’s Anglican Church</a> in Oshawa. </p><p>This sign really works! It captured how a lot of people were feeling and offered them a place to go for hope and healing, a Sunday church service. I know I’ve apologized for overdoing the number of reviews for the sign of this same church, but they caught my attention yet again with this outstanding sign and St. Matthew’s Anglican Church has now earned my highest rating so far. Well played.</p>Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-11039932862578526872018-04-27T11:08:00.000-04:002018-05-15T23:16:48.890-04:00Finally, a church with an Easter message on their sign!<h3>WEEKLY CHURCH SIGN REVIEW: Bowmanville Seventh-Day Adventist Church</h3><p><a href="https://www.bowmanvilleadventist.ca/" target="_blank"><img width="600" height="450" title="Bowmanville Seventh-Day Adventist Church sign" style="border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Bowmanville Seventh-Day Adventist Church sign" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTKLEXqKI1Pg7c_qhVGhweAcp5bGMgFFWWwJW4NefLB0HLVyk8b_FPH8bAJCXTOjVbLiO-TS_fb5_HZVEj1Bybm1RyCGHN64EVhEAUIBd77AxGKNmnvg4O34u7hOHIX3s4hn000b0lik/?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqXYIU6xQkZxuu8dXVYA-rNj5JYnhAkoFf54DnCA8kIIdtLWBVHBzkEDS_gyo3Dem8pE2Dtc6-b4OipZWwlyZkkWkYUC-s7lCFU6GptZuwNMcGh-2wr79_8EhhjrmGLr0N3qXP92wSZI/s1600-h/5_Star_Rating_System_3_stars_T%255B4%255D"><img width="155" height="28" title="5_Star_Rating_System_3_stars_T" style="border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="5_Star_Rating_System_3_stars_T" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKYckgB05ANIvG_dZhDCAnpPS8mtQ1I6UHSz-oGt0VcFiphnuMofMjIRV-sOC3ypxRSoSAcLhghiWEBnR2g-YkuCBerzYPPgVWCtWnaiDl6LeXqnko6qk_yf1DxwvzFGc2xW4dKhmMlk/?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p>For some reason, it was surprisingly hard to find any churches with signs mentioning Easter this year. In fairness, I’ve mostly been taking pictures of church signs I see while walking my dog or sometimes while driving around the city. A friend snapped this pic from the <a href="https://www.bowmanvilleadventist.ca/" target="_blank">Bowmanville Seventh-Day Adventist Church</a>⸺that’s a little too far away for walking my dog!</p><p>Jesus loves the people driving by our churches and this sign communicates that truth in a relevant way given that this was so close to Easter Sunday. Not everyone would get the meaning of this sign, but I think many people know that Jesus died on the cross and would understand this message claiming Jesus did this out of love for us. I like it, but I have to apply my usual review standards. This sign is not the most welcoming and it does not give a specific invite. Since Bowmanville Seventh-Day Adventist Church holds their church service on Saturday at 11 or 11:30 am (not clear to me from the website), it’s important to have this on the sign if you’re wanting to invite people to come. So great job giving a relevant, positive Easter message, but, unfortunately, lacking in a couple other ways. 3 stars out of 5 gives this sign a passing grade.</p>Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-86004333372140692018-04-20T09:46:00.000-04:002018-04-21T21:49:17.302-04:00Do-It-Yourself Church Sign<h3>WEEKLY CHURCH SIGN REVIEW: St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Oshawa</h3><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTiBhuvxvSZ36DWfvdnPPEGpJ1f7Cctez7sOamkDXW1MM1LV-NIKLBmcCO1o5NiWMNfS_vCZ70UhrVVNiuwNoXdzK-70bi7S-Hks74UtgFe4AeeD8mJd4IVtbY86qVsqMBof7FbBVx7M/s1600-h/IMG_20180421_144946%255B5%255D"><img width="600" height="450" title="IMG_20180421_144946" style="border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="IMG_20180421_144946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKA1BRUQK33GzAh8izyo7pXAeDkakFT8YjBJMQm_rVMTgzvrIKV8eCpRw6W_For0Mv9r79uHg96n0YrT4sHC1hC8DdVJI8v5F6zZVydTXRVGiiy8IU7d5eIagWCbPBpHRus7br7vVOxHM/?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6PlSLH_GY6PVN7qfDz4aNTgtI-2bAExn_w3tn9XTswlGAWqHeocXZh9Xof3wO2xGqBin1fgyhrromdgiMjtRgkmwDOjEBtb2pbcD_lZF4Z8GaF2camKgOuiYT9FbwqwtDnPfdI9Z9Wo/s1600-h/5_Star_Rating_System_4_stars_T%255B6%255D"><img width="155" height="28" title="5_Star_Rating_System_4_stars_T" style="border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="5_Star_Rating_System_4_stars_T" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHlLt36Lyn8yyThvgPMHoAkHIQiAGE2hRzrn4VU5iEovIWrVsfmp-yGH_kngbWmIzV2OXkmJ_MvOen4oNddw3qO5l8d3aktuIkyi2fU4tCMfffvuDUmZv8HZTzCBCweCnHKua_tGdXSk/?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p>OK, first, apologies for featuring church signs from <a href="http://stmatthewsoshawa.ca/" target="_blank">St. Matthew’s Anglican Church</a> so often! That’s not fair when there are so many other church signs around. I’ve spent the last couple weeks moving and St. Matthew’s just happens to be on that runway from my old address to my new address. Plus I really like this week’s sign! I promise not to do another sign from St. Matthew’s next Friday, unless it’s really very good. (Sorry for skipping the review last week… last Saturday was the big moving day.)</p><p>“What could this sign say for you to come on Sunday?” Great question! This week’s sign is witty and welcoming. St. Matthew’s Anglican Church is saying to all the people passing by, “We’d like you to come to church… What could we say to convince you?” And the sign gives the times people can come on Sunday. Four stars! It’s welcoming, fun, friendly and gives a specific invite. Congratulations to St. Matthew’s Anglican Church for earning the highest score so far on the Weekly Church Sign Review.</p>Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-46520911921166696482018-04-06T12:20:00.002-04:002018-04-07T18:27:19.057-04:00“I’ll be back!” said Jesus, long before Arnold Schwarzenegger!<h3>WEEKLY CHURCH SIGN REVIEW: St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Oshawa</h3><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdz3gGXy8RS06gqnSSzputyhGLeBG_squgizQ4XmuAVrsZMBwXJ_6qg31r85Z0O6RIvJ9Aeooc3sUpQC93c-ZDO_2emEkiFBlfCMhRw6MBMxqBgoQB25zvX_8Nvv8YaCBQauSw0xULm0w/s1600-h/MVIMG_20180406_123009"><img width="600" height="323" title="St. Matthew's Anglican Church sign in Oshawa, Ontario" style="border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="St. Matthew's Anglican Church sign "I'll be back" in Oshawa, Ontario" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPce55AUYLx3WdwjgEDMJ6MK6cVw8SF96kRg5DHTCbTIlCSnp1pGPWpYa94NLnhAaoY9vY3kANqijPK_lDab4i2vvr0T6lumTQlS2TPo546JvkpAtqk7oTeM4aHXjCKdowg0tcRR24no/?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaPX-NXI6SNeXckxolKrZhOWLJ9_Ln7Y35qKh4T3KZTNsTcYTrHKrnuLFVIOL2edHyUR1EWVy3FmEh85eDechsv7YJ-ABkEnlJGGm7DJJbzBxdNJ-vLUwbb9VEVYovvwb9sMqOdmkNoQ/s1600-h/5_Star_Rating_System_2_stars_T%255B1%255D"><img width="155" height="28" title="5_Star_Rating_System_2_stars_T" style="border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="5_Star_Rating_System_2_stars_T" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHkq272gC5JSlpZAmLZiJhEwrYVpE1el_c5pQ0gwzkRd0ySkFhAptU72NV9yYIhx-2OV_P95S9HqfFWScJS_SEfJ-XFwoe2n8VuyRn0-Mv8D0mVrn5moY3ThMmxstDYK8YdUCkZ13Z3w/?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p>I have to admit this week’s sign at <a href="http://stmatthewsoshawa.ca/" target="_blank">St. Matthew’s Anglican Church</a> in Oshawa definitely caught my attention! I knew right away it would be the sign for this week’s review. Sorry for all the snow in the picture I took on April 6! The sign reads: JESUS SAID “I’LL BE BACK” A LONG WAY BEFORE ARNOLD DID! Is it funny? I’m still trying to decide.</p><p>I previously reviewed a <a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.ca/2018/03/weekly-church-sign-review-christian.html" target="_blank">“Christian Budweiser” sign by St. Matthew’s Anglican Church</a>. It didn’t score so well. But I do want to give this church one star for effort. They are trying to do something with their sign and they do change every week to two weeks. I’ll give them a second star for including the invite to the Sunday Worship Service, though perhaps they should’ve included the word “Sunday.” I’m hesitant about giving another star for the humor of the sign as I’m not sure that i’s that funny. Could we run a poll on whether this sign is funny or not?</p><p>The humor is in suggesting that Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger’s catchphrase “I’ll be back” could’ve been used by the resurrected Jesus as a way of promising his followers that he would return to earth someday following his ascension into heaven. The second coming of Jesus is clearly taught in the Bible so this catchy idea makes sense. It’s not theologically incorrect. But do people who don’t attend church know that Jesus promised to return and that Christians today are waiting expectantly for the second coming? Personally I believe the return of Jesus is imminent. It could happen at anytime. I’m not so sure that many people in the church today believe this or teach it or act as it were true. It’s in the creeds, but do Christians live watching and waiting as Jesus instructed? Do people outside church know that we believe that Jesus ‘will be back’? If not, the humor of the sign falls flat and it’s a joke that only works for insiders. If you click on the “CLICK HERE to join the discussion” link just below this post you can leave a comment to tell me if you found the sign to be funny or not, and maybe you can tell us what you believe about the second coming. Do you agree with the 2 out of 5 stars score? What would you give this church sign? (If you don’t see the link for joining the discussion, click on the title of the post and that link should then be visible below the post.)</p><p>Finally, I’m not sure if St. Matthew’s Anglican Church put up this sign because Arnold Schwarzenegger was in the news this week or if that’s just coincidental, but God’s peace be with him. Schwarzenegger underwent heart surgery on March 29, spent the Easter weekend in hospital and just went home today. A spokesperson released a statement saying the 70-year-old “Terminator” actor and former California governor was “home and doing incredibly well.” Here’s Arnold’s tweet from the hospital:</p><p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It’s true: I’m back! I went to sleep expecting to wake up with a small incision and woke up with a big one - but guess what? I woke up, and that’s something to be thankful for. Thank you to the doctors & nurses. And I’m truly filled with gratitude for all of the kind messages.</p>— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) <a href="https://twitter.com/Schwarzenegger/status/980863228870672384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-57330572188816361592018-03-30T23:15:00.001-04:002018-04-05T10:53:30.003-04:00Jesus Is Risen, but Doctor Strange Is So Mystical<h3>
WEEKLY CHURCH SIGN REVIEW: Life Point Church, Oshawa</h3>
<h3>
<a href="http://lifepointdurham.ca/" target="_blank"><img alt="Life Point Durham Church Network sign promoting Doctor Strange" border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGS4J51tq5ndSm7t179EgUwt5dRjqLuDCFmDKexEryg69954S0-xXOYopO_DIeboTtnns120FOsxL9I70r3m59-DxjLr4vcd2m5uLMnoK8nhxYYDSw3n2qGlG7tCJErFL-h0SrAo2Ns4/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentcolor; display: inline;" title="Life Point Church sign featuring Doctor Strange" width="600" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOHa9-9SRuymge6ARX_X6vvuRj5EdvfYVtYNy_3fc0wCBV1DncNhlXEWsEGfj6PIdsJGzG-9hxJFoBCvxZWH8XSEwW49FbIT0UG48f3vlVc1j-oD8rWhJl2_n3luQU2C4DJHQgfGbpV0/s1600-h/IMG_20180330_234228%255B13%255D"><img alt="Life Point Church: Reel to Real" border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCleLUQL_SUxLac1vXZZIvlsYWHRfjLRlHOet-ie42n4GawOVliiqBGl_LMZqWb0c3X5cS0kB72lZs-6TvseOgENCHrI2hxuVeD1XCb_Jq59GjAq40R3rPyFqaHwQNyfpICdsrKh_TviM/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentcolor; display: inline;" title="Life Point Church: Reel to Real" width="600" /></a></h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7d9xn0WtMu2LUg_b34NpvIta5V3PCnLNQ1URLnPwc07awBnuMfJvUhyM6AThJDCCgtdi0026x_thm2Je0bk2M0Qbg5og-7Fxp_MGr4tD2RvrJ4mBhl3fcf0gNTbob16r2XMmvNf1UWiY/s1600-h/5_Star_Rating_System_1_star_T%255B4%255D"><img alt="5_Star_Rating_System_1_star_T" border="0" height="28" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7C-uCMuh7ONNrypu6mw_pEUWHGme1joxGJriJ2HZxf1uc8e1oEkBzbjosexbjpz36_s8g_O5G4aetwPp5oV-xa3ZE6dnBmFvMD0kD8ZjKrp7uyueUTDle-B7XYolyVAMnOdMK9PhPMdc/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px currentcolor; display: inline;" title="5_Star_Rating_System_1_star_T" width="155" /></a><br />
<em>Doctor Strange</em> is a pretty good movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So when I saw it being advertised on the church sign at <a href="http://lifepointdurham.ca/" target="_blank">Life Point Church</a> in Oshawa it caught my attention. What kind of event is this?<br />
“Reel to Real” is a ministry at Life Point Church which looks at “the culture as expressed in the popular movies of our times.” I’d heard of this before. To be honest, it was one of the sources of inspiration behind the “Frame of Mind Movie Night” which I co-lead. Regarding Reel to Real, <a href="http://lifepointdurham.ca/" target="_blank">Life Point Church</a> goes on to explain that “many of the modern movie makers are the ‘story tellers’ of our day. We don't agree with every statement or concept presented in every movie that we explore, but we do look for the kernels of truth, the overriding ‘God themes’ that can be found in the movies we will consider.” Very interesting. Probably a very good time watching and talking. I would be very interested in exploring the movie <em>Doctor Strange</em> along these lines. Just one problem… Look at the date on the sign!<br />
I took these pictures of the church sign on Friday evening, March 30, but the Reel to Real night featuring <em>Doctor Strange</em> took place way back on January 21st. I might’ve given this sign 3 or 4 stars because I like this invite to go to a church, see a movie and consider it from a Christian point of view. I like this kind of cultural engagement. But advertising an event that happened over two months ago is not good. This sign is an LCD screen and it moves through several announcements, many slides are community-related, but I did see another slide for something in February. It’s a good looking sign on the corner of a very busy intersection. Unfortunately Life Point Durham Church Network has not updated their sign for two months or more so the the information is not too useful to anyone anymore. Thus the downgrade to just 1 star. The only saving grace here is that “Life Point Church Sun 10 am” is always displayed on the sign and there’s definitely a community focus presented on some of the slides. They’re trying, but they really do need to keep that sign updated.<br />
It’s Easter weekend! Good Friday, observing the death of Jesus on the cross, and Easter Sunday, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, are big events for Christians. It’s disappointing to see a great sign like this one not being used to invite people to some great Easter events at the church. I couldn’t even figure out if there were Easter events happening when I checked out the church website. Instead of some kind of Easter invitation, this church has chosen to continue promoting a discussion about the movie <em>Doctor Strange</em> which took place a couple months ago.Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-71896653632008038492018-03-23T12:26:00.000-04:002018-03-31T01:54:34.912-04:00Weekly Church Sign: Not a church sign, but it could be!<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTCW7vbR9B_O5QkA5vEMLqTazV9U7tEZXiajBqk3ipFrS8qoEyEAXx5wXEhQiDmadmBGenteSg4942D4IuNiFI7NDRX7qQ3fWeFXEo3YdYGaDEj809Ql6je2OZssA0SuWvhoBj8G3gYs/s1600-h/CameraZOOM-20140523084715525%255B5%255D"><img width="600" height="450" title="CameraZOOM-20140523084715525" style="border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="CameraZOOM-20140523084715525" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uApaCnpnkPlercTrOjOR1LpBCL9kHa74mJ8uoeP9jfxqNU4hO2AG43Z3KvlwknXeJ5qecMyIXZe9JGRh9Lb5_PJA16U0ceuPToW4iZISXa1iJK4CBFu8YbbPKfJ8rJnXXqTej3UUkR4/?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3cxdP_Eke_ymlAWRFrxp35bs3WbBrbEWN4JukzPUVxvQDQBSuOuzPxvuSKdLvjkqXeQpcb0Ci076C7gC_mRmwCHTuDg8RbcW7WkZ2flbTOff3V_5xzJJe4-XNq9EuYrMVV3ivHI7L5A/s1600-h/5_Star_Rating_System_4_stars_T%255B7%255D"><img width="155" height="28" title="5_Star_Rating_System_4_stars_T" style="border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="5_Star_Rating_System_4_stars_T" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lIYDGg27GiW4HEHho7uAieWwQhZTczGKRQgPZLKP7nELL3N_TVDXv_FjEClfi3o4Mj96l9PI8879xqik4H832dIZyzUwN6Xdoa-TeWpKlzYtMfeUe0My9T83OOmHBkgfu2gLpVhoQ1c/?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p>“Real integrity is doing the right thing even without any recognition”—that is a good message. It tells people passing by something about what this school values. Yes it’s a school not a church (French école = school in English). So maybe I shouldn’t review it as a weekly church sign, but I wanted to show that having a good church sign doesn’t have to be difficult. This message is certainly in keeping with our Christian values. I’m sure you could find a Bill Hybels version of it. He wrote a book titled, “Who You Are When No One’s Looking.” In that book he says, “Character is not what we have done, but rather who we are.” That’s a good one. Likewise, “Worry a little less about the darkness, and spend a little more time thinking about what you can do to leverage the light that you’ve been given.” A great quote that speaks to the values of your church can work well on your church sign.</p><p>I still like the idea of using a church’s sign to invite people in, but a good quote like the one above could earn 4 out of 5 stars. It’s a good way to bring some variety to the content on the church sign.</p><p>The quote on the school sign made me think of former US Vice-President Joe Biden. While at a movie theatre with his granddaughter, when he thought no one was looking, Joe wrote a note, gave it to a reportedly homeless man and talked with him. </p><p><iframe width="500" height="652" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpaul.equale%2Fposts%2F1641269662598695&width=500" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="border: currentcolor; border-image: none; overflow: hidden;" allowtransparency="true"></iframe></p><p>As it turns out, this Facebook post went viral and media outlets went crazy reporting the story, but I believe Joe Biden was doing the right thing here by this man and was not seeking any recognition for doing it. That’s integrity. It jumps out at you when you have the concurrent contrast of President Trump paying off a porn star and Joe Biden stopping to get to know a homeless man. Seems pretty clear which one of them has integrity and respects the dignity of every individual.</p>Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-26984188847030522802018-03-16T10:57:00.000-04:002018-04-04T17:50:45.746-04:00Weekly Church Sign: Happy New Year’Easter!<p><a href="http://www.zioncrc.ca/" target="_blank"><img width="600" height="516" title="Zion Christian Reformed Church sign" style="border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Zion Christian Reformed Church sign" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYU1obRFL5qZFjGRpMyWy6svoBX2AdtBrJ6BgcVxEv2Ta2AqMX3NK4PqEPFRX78u2ka2LGMCyUbT-aW9oLUg30OpJH5xlnW6o8Owwv-AH6Zf5fjqT08Qtks36jFN710oKHv6XaoE9fb0/?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGopAGXe_rJboNlf_KhPkHpg1fRHOdPS3IgNk6et-UDEVHqgKD_uR72eUGfcFMbGM04gmLKLdbUOb-66NzUkoZXHd9pa9fxZpfxY7FUeIvSI9QEaMjMAGa_zIQaWxaWcIXQ2nw1yznZ0/s1600-h/5_Star_Rating_System_3_stars_T%255B3%255D"><img width="240" height="44" title="5_Star_Rating_System_3_stars_T" style="border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="5_Star_Rating_System_3_stars_T" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOZXiOHDnoptvxcGzYpWQkj4R9IfnjpKKd6i2uUgHi-nYg5mP1mWmzf-398M9QjcAuMLOtWCfxlxQUR36ACJUm4w0-rx7zCxnGUufDwDXqmoGQyK4CUvEgyfeQE_-fmVvkxTmxxJOPyY/?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p>This is a pretty good church sign or at least it was in January and maybe even in February. It’s kind of odd to be talking about the “New Year” in March! As we reach mid-March, shouldn’t our attention be turning toward Easter (April 1)? <a href="http://www.zioncrc.ca/" target="_blank">Zion Christian Reformed Church</a>, it’s time to refresh your church sign!</p><p>In January, this sign would likely get around 4 out of 5 stars. It would’ve been timely, playing off of New Year’s Day. The triple repetition of “new” is an effective way of emphasizing it’s a new year, new church service time at 9:30am and you’re welcome to join us (New Beginnings). It’s simple, but I like it. Drivers on this medium busy road in Oshawa can easily process the message.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8RH3fZdqVp-O0AUSSwmY94asYiI9QAqn29yliqCE4uwhONWfQwNJXfgVoH-CiUxVSS3mQALhHNsNNI-2TLZY5zKwPiiNJL-rvFu6m-P1dEe5G9MpJeVpudiDOKJX3RaDRTHCIZRc9hUI/s1600-h/DSC_0329%255B6%255D"><img width="290" height="210" title="Zion Christian Reformed Church sign 2017" align="left" style="margin: 5px 10px 0px 0px; border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; float: left; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Zion Christian Reformed Church sign in Oshawa" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQhlL0HqDrA0DL2C6fzRtbIfhSRepbRyX9vY_BxHkYzE4rYMgxPhfIm-ugdq1H85bYmhpHvVKe1fdQSGnmj1fOIc49xVU06QF8pt1WIj9uBrIUUClBnWbdU00xteidhdqyVIi2HkKsqA/?imgmax=800" border="0"></a>The only problem here is this message on this sign has been left up too long. This is actually surprising as <a href="http://www.zioncrc.ca/" target="_blank">Zion Christian Reformed Church</a> is usually pretty good about frequently changing their sign. In fact, I found last year’s sign from this time of year on my camera roll! Hmm… last spring looks much springier than this spring!</p><p>So to review this church sign has a good message, easily understood by drivers. It’s welcoming and has a specific invite. Zion Christian Reformed Church is trying to make good use of their sign and reach out to their community. Subtracting one star because it’s been up too long, this sign still earns 3 out of 5 stars. I’m hoping they change it to a good Easter message very soon!</p>Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-71844371994750198352018-03-09T10:00:00.000-05:002018-04-04T17:45:09.729-04:00Weekly Church Sign: Don’t visit us, visit our website<p><a href="http://www.ritsonalliance.church/" target="_blank"><img width="600" height="450" title="Ritson Road Alliance Church" style="border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="Ritson Road Alliance Church sign in Oshawa" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitr3SC86slGFlCc7OrNdBezK43U_njsY8gyY6NJlD9_EBrI0Vw4Q_ie4DHobr7mVL9JLIMo6RFoGYQtdzNE3sd3H2DOuun2KP_dAD4TJ956wqc4LbmVhG_lNL-kcx1tSFZOFGYQlIG_X8/?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE09xf-1MUrgeHSlqn_gj5ThiIAORQayx50J7lOiKrhsrBD1rGy0uQ5WWs3H-gKm-kLUFwv7Oi3RKo7OzHFgx7swspZ-Md86W8giZsOAhVqqFyshcqvF8Urao_RNQuMFFKqWucqWZsrDo/s1600-h/5_Star_Rating_System_0_and_half_star_T%255B6%255D"><img width="240" height="44" title="½ star out of 5 stars" style="border: 0px currentcolor; border-image: none; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="½ star out of 5 stars" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5zNNG2BF-RbVjm0xQ_eG_zBayCa3y4IXOGeO8SBJsx6mA1mqUV23D3vlX8RHuSRXAa7pQ8UMPIWgoPh0hDvJ50TG89UQMAkLp0ndrAgyoRQCEYbg5VCOJEV0cfB2peGd5gXIYOENB80/?imgmax=800" border="0"></a></p><p>Ritson Road is a very busy street in Oshawa. Thousands of cars are driving past this sign for <a href="http://www.ritsonalliance.church/" target="_blank">Ritson Road Alliance Church</a> everyday. Why not grab people’s attention with your sign, invite them to come to your church, or at least give them a smile? This sign is an epic fail. It probably got more second looks while my dog was sitting there than it had up to that point. Yes, it’s a clever website address with that .church domain, but let’s be serious most people driving by could find your church website if they wanted to. The sign is an opportunity to give them a reason to look you up online. And this website address fails to give them that reason.</p><p>At a minimum the church could’ve use the second line on their sign to say “Join us Sunday 10:30 am.” Instead they put that message, “Join us Sunday 10:30 am,” on the other side of the sign. That is a serious sign sin. You can’t put half the message on one side and the other half-message on the other side. Do they think commuters will put together the two halves by the end of the day? They could easily have put the full message on both sides of the sign. It still wouldn’t be very good, but it would’ve been better than splitting it up. </p><p>I’ll give them a ½ star for effort. Their church website <a title="http://www.ritsonalliance.church/" href="http://www.ritsonalliance.church/">http://www.ritsonalliance.church/</a> is actually pretty good. It’s friendly, welcoming and interesting. But I’m not evaluating websites in the Weekly Church Sign Review, I’m looking at signs. And the sign at Ritson Road Alliance Church is pathetic. Don’t advertise website addresses. Don’t do that! Instead give people a reason to google your church! They did have Sunday info on the other side of the sign, but there’s no humor here or any attempt to grab people’s attention. The sign doesn’t even light up at night! I was very tempted to downgrade to 0 out of 5 stars when I discovered the sign doesn’t light up at night. It’s very dark around this church at night, kind of spooky and not welcoming.<p>As I said last week, all too often churches fail to use their signs to try to draw people in. Admittedly, <a href="http://www.ritsonalliance.church/" target="_blank">Ritson Road Alliance Church</a>, you do not have much space on this sign. You might be able to purchase a set of slightly smaller letters that would allow you to put a little more info on the second line. That might help a bit. Even better would be to get a sign maker in to refresh and reconfigure the whole sign. Using your current letter set, I think this would fit (on both sides of the sign):<p>YOU’RE INVITED TO JOIN US<br>SUNDAY 10:30 AM</p><p>You could promote an upcoming event at your church. Why not put up a quotation from Jesus? I suspect you’ll find this to be too edgy, but here’s another suggestion that would fit:</p><p>LESS BUSY THAN WAL-MART<br>JOIN US SUNDAY 10:30 AM<p>If you can catch people’s attention and make them think about something, they just might think about your church the next time they think about going to church. And, yes, they might even google “Ritson Road Alliance Church” and find your website.</p>Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-71671835505393198632018-03-02T16:00:00.000-05:002018-04-04T17:55:02.239-04:00Weekly Church Sign Review: “Christian Budweiser”?Churches can use their signs to tell people about their church, to invite people or to share their message. This is valuable advertising especially if the church is on a busy road, and, yet, all too often churches fail to use their signs to try to draw people in. I'm told I can be too cynical, so I'm going to try to offer some constructive criticism on church signs. While out walking my dog, I've been snapping pictures of church signs as a kind of hobby. Come back to the blog every Friday for my review of a local church sign. I snapped this picture just a couple of days ago...<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJak_MbYCom3S_7E9DbOnFne4t-vkkyyjgPrHNet6ks5qRO8WoBzvoNrMeuJ-e76bB0ri83oAs6Er5bOEr5CIfi6hgtdPQ4WFsB0CpMNkYwtitD16Ana9LDVV2KXygyYo_TudLQS1x8c8/s1600/MVIMG_20180301_122746.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img width="600" height="450" title="St. Matthew's Anglican Church sign in Oshawa ON" alt="St. Matthew's Anglican Church sign in Oshawa ON pic by Rev. Ken Symes" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJak_MbYCom3S_7E9DbOnFne4t-vkkyyjgPrHNet6ks5qRO8WoBzvoNrMeuJ-e76bB0ri83oAs6Er5bOEr5CIfi6hgtdPQ4WFsB0CpMNkYwtitD16Ana9LDVV2KXygyYo_TudLQS1x8c8/s640/MVIMG_20180301_122746.jpg" border="0" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a style="clear: left; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURBehNfqUw7u4r5tInZbLFAuWmc6Ux__cac1-yAU-Es117dRF4pUG0pNS_HwZVR3Vja2-twAV4VsxUuqg-sAYotTGmdGPhCCp4J3tw-pLjenuTTnyZluY9gk5ZyV-ibJU05LWkdJ3AAQ/s1600/5_Star_Rating_System_0_and_half_star_T.png" imageanchor="1"><img width="200" height="36" title="1/2 star out of 5" alt="Ken Symes rates this sign a 1/2 star out of 5" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURBehNfqUw7u4r5tInZbLFAuWmc6Ux__cac1-yAU-Es117dRF4pUG0pNS_HwZVR3Vja2-twAV4VsxUuqg-sAYotTGmdGPhCCp4J3tw-pLjenuTTnyZluY9gk5ZyV-ibJU05LWkdJ3AAQ/s200/5_Star_Rating_System_0_and_half_star_T.png" border="0" data-original-width="300" data-original-height="56"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">½ star out of 5 stars</td></tr>
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Playing off an 1980s Budweiser beer commercial which sings, “For all you do, this Bud's for you,” <a href="http://stmatthewsoshawa.ca/" target="_blank">St. Matthew's Anglican Church</a> in Oshawa is letting people in their neighbourhood know, “For all you do, this Blood is for you... and a wafer too!” I guess the aim of this sign was to be funny, but making light of that which is most sacred to the church, ie. the blood of Christ, is by definition sacrilegious. Some will rightly take offence at this sign.<br>
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I can see that they are trying to be welcoming, saying that the Eucharist (also know as Communion in other churches), the service of remembering the body and blood of Jesus in his sacrifice on the cross, is open to all... that everyone is welcome to eat the bread and drink the wine and remember the suffering and death of Jesus. By adding the Budweiser phrase “For all you do,” this invitation implies that people have earned the right to share in this sacred remembrance. But Jesus dies for us because no one is worthy, all have sinned and fallen short. Recently at a small group Bible study, we saw how Mark's account of the Last Supper (Mark 14:12-26) makes clear that not one of the disciples was worthy to be at the table and that was the point that Jesus was making. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). So all are welcome at the table, at Eucharist or Communion, but no one has earned that opportunity and it is only for those who believe in what Jesus has done for them and trust in him as Lord and Saviour.<br>
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Why the ½ star for St. Matthew's Anglican Church sign, the “Christian Budweiser” sign? Because they are trying to be welcoming and friendly with this sign. Unfortunately, it's too churchy for secular people. The humor fails. Theologically it's bad. And it has no specific invite. Usually St. Matthew's does much better with their church sign and I hope they change this one soon.<br>
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Previously I've seen on their sign an invitation to something called, “<a href="http://stmatthewsoshawa.ca/church-from-scratch/" target="_blank">Church from Scratch</a>.” I like the sound of that, like we'll start with the basics ingredients and figure out together how to do “church.” Their website explains:<br>
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At St. Matthew's we are trying to do what Jesus calls us too each and every day. We are called to help share and be the Good News of God. We are called to look for and connect to God in everyday life. The trouble is we have too often tried to make people fit out practices on a Sunday morning instead of first listening to you and responding to God that is working there too. We want to create an opportunity to explore your spiritual life on your terms, where you are free to decide for yourself when to stay or when to go deeper. Church from Scratch is one way we can do this.</blockquote>
“Church from Scratch” sounds like a great way to reach out and welcome people in. Put that on the <a href="http://stmatthewsoshawa.ca/" target="_blank">St. Matthew’s Anglican Church</a> sign and I bet they could score 4 or 5 stars ;-) As I live in the same neighbourhood, I may have to check out this “Church from Scratch.” Hopefully they'll forgive me for rating their “Christian Budweiser” church sign so poorly.<br>
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<a style="margin-right: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1nyyH_gi20K8f8gH6e8R6Aed6YnrLH57llilxXtWNEd5h-3FxxBb_iXPt1CfJnWT52XXhhTyqHvXAjBMDxFEeVL2_A71h_Gs4P2NWvF1GT8eJJ19aOQjsQwU9YD0qPifRY6q9-KOzYI/s1600/Church-from-Scratch-Mar-25th.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img width="492" height="640" title="Church from Scratch at St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Oshawa ON" alt="Church from Scratch at St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Oshawa ON" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1nyyH_gi20K8f8gH6e8R6Aed6YnrLH57llilxXtWNEd5h-3FxxBb_iXPt1CfJnWT52XXhhTyqHvXAjBMDxFEeVL2_A71h_Gs4P2NWvF1GT8eJJ19aOQjsQwU9YD0qPifRY6q9-KOzYI/s640/Church-from-Scratch-Mar-25th.jpg" border="0" data-original-width="1237" data-original-height="1600"></a></div>Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-71606105397456736122015-12-16T21:14:00.001-05:002016-01-28T01:56:51.366-05:00Franklin Graham's Mind-Boggling Support for Donald Trump's Ban on All Muslims<div>I've been struggling to understand why so many evangelical Christians seem to be supporting Donald Trump to be the Republican candidate for US President. He has said so many things that are against our Christian values, the latest being his proposal to ban all Muslims from entering the United States. I can't begin to tell you how shocked, how horrified I was, really, to hear Franklin Graham give basically an endorsement of Trump because he too would like to ban all Muslims. It's just not a position I ever would have expected the son of Billy Graham and founder of Samaritan's Purse to proclaim. And yet he did.</div> <div id="fb-root"></div><script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><br> <div class="fb-post" data-width="500" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/FranklinGraham/posts/1055176477871866"> <div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/FranklinGraham/posts/1055176477871866">For some time I have been saying that Muslim immigration into the United States should be stopped until we can properly...<br>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FranklinGraham/">Franklin Graham</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FranklinGraham/posts/1055176477871866">Wednesday, December 9, 2015</a></blockquote></div></div> <div></div> <div><br>Many of us in Canada and the US had no idea of the extent of the Syrian refugee crisis until Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old boy washed up on the shore of Turkey. He died, along with his five-year-old brother Galib and their mother Rehan, in a desperate attempt to escape to Turkey and then find a way to Canada where they have some family. Why are people so desperate to flee from Syria? The brutality Bashar al-Assad and the resulting civil war left much of the country open to the invasion of the Salafi jihadist militant group known as Daesh (or ISIS). And now the US, UK, Canada and other allies as well as Russia are carrying out bombing missions against Daesh in Syria and Iraq. Here are some quick facts about Syria from World Vision.</div> <ul> <li>13.5 million people in Syria need humanitarian assistance. <li>4.3 million Syrians are refugees, and 6.6 million are displaced within Syria; half are children. <li>Most Syrian refugees remain in the Middle East, in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt; slightly more than 10 percent of the refugees have traveled to Europe. </li></ul> <div>It is the worst refugee crisis since World War II. And this is why the European Union and other countries are bringing in Syrian refugees. Canada is currently bringing in 25,000 Syrians. The US had committed to 10,000, but now even that number is in doubt, thanks at least in part to Donald Trump and Franklin Graham.</div> <div><br clear="none"><img style="float: left; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; display: inline" src="http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Sarah+Palin+Sarah+Palin+Visits+Haiti+Franklin+JkrjmR0wPTXl.jpg" width="394" align="left" height="263">Perhaps giving shoeboxes filled with toys to poor children is the extent of Franklin Graham's compassion, but the Samaritan for whom he named his organization Samaritan's Purse does much more than that. The travelling Samaritan comes upon a man whom robbers have left beaten and bloodied, laying in a ditch. While the Jewish priest and the upright Jewish man have just walked by him and done nothing, it is a despised biracial Samaritan who shows him compassion and bandages up his wounds. At great personal risk, the Samaritan brings the beaten man into town and pays for his care. (In that culture Jews despised Samaritans so much that bringing the beaten Jewish man into a Jewish town may very well have resulted in the Samaritan being assaulted.) His compassion tells him it is the right thing to do in spite of the risk. And in case you missed the point of Jesus' parable, Franklin, it is the Samaritan who shows us the compassion God has for the needy, the compassion which God has shown to you and calls you to show to others.<br><br>As Christians that compassion tells us that helping the Syrian refugees is the right thing to do in spite of any perceived risk. Threatened by a brutal militaristic apocalyptic doomsday group (Daesh), these people have fled their homes and their country and are seeking refuge, but you would have us treat them as the enemy. How dare you flaunt your "Reverend" title and presume to tell Christians and Americans that they too should support Donald Trump's ban on all Muslims. We are not "at war with Islam" as you say in your Facebook post. No, America, Canada, the UK and their allies are fighting against Daesh, a brutal militaristic group which is a small faction of radical Islamic fundamentalism focused on bringing about an apocalyptic doomsday. Given how diametrically opposed we are to Daesh and the horrible things they have done to both Christians and Muslims, can you explain to me in any coherent way why we would not show compassion to the victims of Daesh who have had to abandon their homes and flee from their country? Bringing Syrian refugees to our countries is not only the right thing to do and the humane thing, it is also certainly what the Samaritan would have done. You are responding in fear like the priest and upright man in Jesus' parable, and not with the compassion of the Samaritan.</div>Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-3667085111057983482013-12-31T20:27:00.001-05:002013-12-31T20:27:16.285-05:00Sunday Preview (5 Jan 2014, Christmas 2A)<p>As Christians, do you suppose we should spend more time or less time dealing with the biblical text of Sunday’s sermons? I guess I’m asking part of the bigger question James 1:22 raises about becoming doers of the Word rather than just hearers of sermons. And, yes, I suspect part of the answer is spending more time with the biblical passages behind the sermons so that we are better prepared to hear God speak to us through his Word through the preacher. Every sermon can have a life-changing impact on us. I’m a biblical exegete who no longer preaches every Sunday, but I do miss this process of grappling with God’s Word and making clear its message to us. So I’m going to try this approach of previewing the biblical text many of us, at least in churches following the Revised Common Lectionary, are likely to encounter this coming Sunday in hopes that we might do more than just listen to sermons.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zBQ4UBy8CAo/UsNu5RdGtWI/AAAAAAAAJP4/_3DY28K-mf0/s1600-h/Eph1_3%25255B32%25255D.jpg"><img title="Eph1_3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Eph1_3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aFhTD_pC-f8/UsNu6UmK1CI/AAAAAAAAJQA/ycmqYcd5yCU/Eph1_3_thumb%25255B29%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="563"></a></p> <h3>Ephesians 1:3-14</h3> <p>This is an amazing biblical passage to read and to study for the beginning of a new year for people whose identity is “in Christ.” I want you to try this. Take a deep breath and read the full sentence Paul wrote here. It starts in verse 3 and ends at verse 14! That’s one long sentence. 202 words long. A sentence communicates an idea. In this case it is a big idea which is given many supporting reasons. Paul gives praise to God the Father for everything we have received “in Christ.” He repeats this key concept of “in Christ” 11 times in this one sentence. That’s gotta be important. This is certainly a biblical passage worth memorizing, if anyone does that anymore. I’d recommend it. Memorizing this passage will give you such a better grasp on what Paul has to teach us about being Christians in this world.</p> <p>So what should a good biblical sermon on this passage sound like? One sentence, one big idea: Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Because he “blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms <em>in Christ</em>” (v3). How has he blessed us <em>in Christ</em>? I see the apostle listing five big blessings we have in Christ, and, again, he’s listing these that we might praise God. Some exegetes point out that the phrase “to the praise of his glory” occurs in verses 6, 12 and 14, and that, therefore, Paul is listing three blessings, such that a couple of the five are actually re-instatements or expansions. That’s possible. Sometimes I think commentators try to make Paul out to be much neater than he actually is, but at least there is still serious engagement going with the text; however, I do get concerned with those who come out with a pristine three-point sermon looking something like this:</p> <ol> <li>Chosen by the Father (1:3-6)</li> <li>Redeemed by the Son (1:7-12)</li> <li>Sealed by the Holy Spirit (1:13,14)</li></ol> <p>That’s very, pretty. Too pretty. This outline can be used to show that this passage is Paul teaching about our Trinitarian spirituality. Cool, but not sticking to the text. Again, Paul gives praise to God the Father. That is the main idea. He gives praise to God for all that we receive in Christ, as made real in our lives by the work of the Holy Spirit. The passage develops a list of five of these blessings we have received in Christ. So while it’s true that the Triune nature of God is affirmed here, it’s done incidentally not as the focus of the passage. In my opinion, that makes a stronger case for the reality of the Trinity than a direct argument. He can just assume it while making some other point. Hopefully, the sermon you’ll hear on Sunday will stick close to the text and cover these five big blessings we have in Christ, maybe three or four with some compression.</p> <p>1. He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world (v4a) v4</p> <p>God did this “that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight” (v4b). Let me comment further under the next blessing as the two are closely related since God has chosen us in Christ and by doing so he was predestining us to adoption.</p> <p>2. God predestined us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ (5a) vv5-6</p> <p>Here’s the deal. Jesus is not merely a conduit of God’s blessings, like a live electric wire zapping us. They don’t come to us just through Christ, instead Paul repeatedly talks about the blessings we have <em>in </em>Christ. It’s about incorporation. We have been baptized <em>into </em>Jesus (Rom 6:3) and we have been united with him (Rom 6:5-8). This give us a new address in the heavenly realms that’s “in Christ.” Jerry Walls and Joseph Dongell in their book <em>Why I Am Not a Calvinist</em> say, </p> <blockquote> <p>Now that we have been incorporated into Christ, we have entered into the drama of his own story. His death has become our death, his resurrection has become our resurrection (Eph 2:5), and his position of privilege at the Father’s right hand bring us an immeasurable wealth of grace (Eph 2:6-7)… It is in him we have been chosen and predestined (Eph 1:4-5). This means that Jesus Christ himself is the chosen one, the predestined one. Whenever one is incorporated into him by grace through faith, one comes to share in Jesus’ special status as chosen of God."</p></blockquote> <p>This is an awesome reality. Consider what we’ve become <em>in Christ</em>. Easy to see how Paul considers these to be reasons why we should praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.</p> <p>3. In him we have redemption through his blood (v7a) vv7-10</p> <p>Verses 7-10 explore God’s plan of redemption through Christ, and, as it turns out, it’s far bigger than just “the forgiveness of our trespasses” which is already amazing. It’s very important for us as Christians to recognize that God’s plan in Christ is so much bigger than just me being forgiven of my sins. God is in the process of setting everything right in Christ and we’re part of that plan. Very cool!</p> <p><sup></sup>4. In Christ we too have been claimed as God’s own possession (v11a) vv11-12</p> <p>There’s a lot of divisive theology coming out of the interpretation of verses 11-12. Rather than getting hung up on each phrase and Paul’s precise sequence of thought, I see the passage clearly affirming that “God’s own possession,” a way of referring to God’s own people or God’s nation, has been transformed in Christ so that now it’s not just the Jewish nation. Now the people who belong to God are the Jews who have set their hope on Christ (v12a) along with the Gentiles who believe in Christ (v13b). <em>We</em> are God’s own possession, his people. We are<em> in Christ</em> and the focal point of God’s work in redeeming all this world.</p> <p>5. In Christ, we were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit (v11a, 13c) vv13-14</p> <p>The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives is “the down payment of our inheritance” which means we’re not just getting a promise of redemption. No, the Holy Spirit is redeeming us, giving us the power to change, here and now. Praise God! We may not yet be all that we will be, but we’ve come a long way so far! And there is, perhaps, the best thought to relate to this being a new year coming. Thanks to all that we are receiving in Christ and to the working of the Spirit in our lives, we are being changed. Let’s praise God for that and really open ourselves up to what he will do in our lives in this coming year. Let’s not just be content that God has forgiven our sins in the past. Let’s look forward with hope and anticipation of what our great God will be doing to redeem us and to make us more like Christ in this year ahead. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hekdnazTfgI/UsNu7szwqEI/AAAAAAAAJQI/5Otd_s7xkIU/s1600-h/Church%252520of%252520the%252520Northern%252520Lights%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="Church of the Northern Lights" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Church of the Northern Lights" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RoIKjMU9LQ8/UsNu8oW9pGI/AAAAAAAAJQM/8bqa1S42IdI/Church%252520of%252520the%252520Northern%252520Lights_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="304"></a></p> <h3><strong>John 1:1-18</strong></h3> <p>The Gospel text would also make for a great sermon this coming Sunday. After everything I wrote about the Ephesians passage, I won’t say much here which is a crime, of course! This opening passage in the Gospel of John is a real power text. Much could be said about identifying the pre-incarnate Son of God as the Word and what the gospel writer means to communicate by this new title, not to mention the whole concept of the Word becoming flesh and light coming into darkness. But, since I’m keeping this brief, I want to look at just one thing, this “man sent from God whose name was John.<sup></sup> He came as a witness to testify <sup></sup>concerning that light, so that through him all might believe” (vv 6-7). And in verse 15, we are told, “John testified<sup></sup> concerning him. He cried out, saying, ‘This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’’” So you’re thinking this is John the Baptist.</p> <p>While Matthew, Mark and Luke all identify John as “the Baptist,” the Gospel of John never does. Every preacher I’ve heard preach this first chapter of John feels compelled to inform us that, yes, this John is John the Baptist. Rarely does any preacher ever answer the question as to to why the text does not name him as such. I think it’s a question we should ask. Why omit the title which would at once bring clarity, perhaps a needed clarity since the Gospel is named “John.” I want to say two things about this. First, it seems to me the writer is stressing that this was just an everyday man named John, you know, a bloke that goes by a common name. What he says about this John is actually to be true of everyone who believes, that we are to be witnesses and testify about this light that has come into the world. He is not presented as being anymore special or different than any of us. What we are told about John here is what everyone who comes to believe that the Son of God has lived among us is to do—to be witnesses and to testify.</p> <p>Secondly, more as a footnote, I’d like to point out that John is definitely not “John the Baptist.” That translators still identify him as such is ridiculous, shoddy translation at its worst. What is a “Baptist”? I’m sure you’ll tell me that a Baptist is a member of a Baptist church. Whatever else John may have been, he was not that. He never even went to church, and he is certainly not the founder of the Baptist church as I heard so many times while living in the Southern Bible Belt. What Matthew, Mark and Luke are actually calling him is John “the Baptizer,” as in one who baptizes others. That translators will defend the Baptist title as traditional is indefensible. They know what “Baptist” means to people today and it is not what it meant to Matthew, Mark and Luke. They had no connotation whatsoever of this title relating to a particular church denomination, and neither should we. The Greek word is a participle, essentially a verb turned into a noun, “the one who baptizes,” i.e. baptizer. Join me in correcting this travesty. Whenever I’m asked to read one of the gospel passages mentioning John, I correct the translation and read “John the Baptizer.” We cannot let Baptists believe John began their church denomination anymore than we could let Pentecostals claim their church denomination started on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2.</p> <h3>Jeremiah 31:7-14</h3> <p>Here’s another splendid biblical text, caught up in that same tension of the “already, but not yet” that we saw in Ephesians 1:3-14. God is now bringing together his people from the land of the north and from the ends of the earth. “For the Lord will deliver Jacob and redeem<sup></sup> them from the hand of those stronger<sup></sup> than they. They will come and shout for joy<sup></sup> on the heights<sup></sup> of Zion” (vv11-12a). This is new the transformed people of God we described above in Ephesians, no longer the people of Israel, but now all who are <em>in Christ</em>. We will come and shout for joy on Zion. Indeed in the gathering of God’s people, we are that holy city. What Jeremiah prophesied is being fulfilled before our eyes <em>in Christ.</em></p> <p>For more insight into the texts for this week, I would encourage you to checkout an Australian pastor’s website, <a href="http://laughingbird.net">http://laughingbird.net</a>. I’ve been checking out his site and using his Scripture paraphrases and prayers for more than ten years now. I love the way he writes prayers incorporating bits from each of the texts that week. Here’s his prayer of Commission and Benediction for this coming Sunday:</p> <p>Go now, and bear witness to the light so others might believe.<br>Since you are chosen in Christ,<br>........live before him in love, holy and blameless.<br>Live with hope in Christ, for the praise of his glory.<br><br>And may God fill the earth with peace;<br>May Christ give you grace upon grace from his fullness;<br>And may the Holy Spirit, the pledge of your inheritance,<br>........lead you on straight paths where you will not stumble.<br><br>We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,<br>........<b><i>In the name of Christ. Amen.</i></b></p> <div id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:7327ecd1-005f-44b4-a3ed-d1d1f29aa43b" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ephesians+1%3a3-14" rel="tag">Ephesians 1:3-14</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/John+1%3a1-18" rel="tag">John 1:1-18</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Jeremiah+31%3a7-14" rel="tag">Jeremiah 31:7-14</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/lectionary" rel="tag">lectionary</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/exegesis" rel="tag">exegesis</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ken+Symes" rel="tag">Ken Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Samaritan+XP" rel="tag">Samaritan XP</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-55982489531326897622013-12-28T12:29:00.001-05:002013-12-28T13:45:44.871-05:00Missing the point of Christmas<p>Watching the news on Boxing Day, I heard someone who someone who had been standing in line outside a box store for much of the cold night say the most absurd thing. Asked why he’s been standing in line for seven or eight hours, the young man says, “Just for the fun of it. You know it’s the… Christmas Spirit, Boxing Day, something I wanted to experience.” (You can catch him at around 1:10 into this video.)</p><object width="480" height="322" ><param name="movie" value="http://www.cbc.ca/video/swf/UberPlayer.swf?state=sharevideo&clipId=2427003855&width=480&height=322" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.cbc.ca/video/swf/UberPlayer.swf?state=sharevideo&clipId=2427003855&width=480&height=322" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="322" /></object> <p>Standing in line outside a store on Christmas night, hoping to buy reduced-priced electronics for yourself in the morning—that has nothing at all to do with the Christmas Spirit! You might experience frostbite or the freezing of our soul, but you won’t be experiencing the Spirit of Christmas! Christmas is about the self-giving love of God shown in the birth of God’s Son as a baby in Bethlehem. God sent his son that we might have new life, that we might experience the power to change and not live in such self-centered ways.</p> <p>The young man mentioned wanting to experience not only the Christmas Spirit, but also Boxing Day. I know it has little meaning to us now, but let’s be clear that the historical meaning of “Boxing Day” has nothing at all to do with the consumer-driven quest to purchase reduced-priced merchandise. Back in the day, Boxing Day was when the alms boxes in Anglican churches were opened up and the money collected throughout the year was given to the poor. It was, thus, an extension of the self-giving love celebrated on Christmas Day.</p> <p>It can be entertaining when we see the ways in which the meaning of these holy days have become so twisted. But all that aside for a moment, I think we have to admit that all this consumer-driven craziness does affect us. Was Christmas for me a celebration of God’s self-giving love or was I focused on what I was getting under the tree this year? Was I more prepared to persevere in long lines at department stores than I was to go out in the cold to attend special church services? Has the Christ Child been magnified or minimized in my holidays this year? Bah, humbug! I’m afraid people may have seen a little more of (pre-conversion) Ebenezer Scrooge in me and less of Jesus. Well, at least, there’s the makings of a new year’s resolution worth the effort.</p> <div id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:8626384c-dc2f-489c-aa27-b7b88b280f00" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Christmas" rel="tag">Christmas</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-79776843687895936762013-05-12T14:12:00.001-04:002013-05-12T14:12:38.840-04:00What not to give for Mother’s Day<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-V-aeW-6TEgM/UY_bigFYv4I/AAAAAAAAHzw/_1n4IUyFYyA/s1600-h/GanongChocTweet%25255B40%25255D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="GanongChocTweet" border="0" alt="GanongChocTweet" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dMZJ6ZvBiMo/UY_bjvv65qI/AAAAAAAAHz4/S5p4vA5ImQk/GanongChocTweet_thumb%25255B47%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="341" height="236"></a></p> <p>What mom wouldn’t love to receive some sweet chocolate treats on this Mother’s Day? How about the mom who knows that these exquisite chocolates are made from cocoa being harvested by children who are forced to work in the cocoa jungle and in some cases sold into slavery? Could a mother who has been informed about the facts of the cocoa industry, a mother who knows that 200,000 children are being forced to work on cocoa farms in west Africa—long days, dangerous work, toxic sprays, gruelling labour—could a mother who knows the facts really enjoy the chocolate these poor children have helped produce?</p> <p>Be assured unless you’ve purchased certified FairTrade chocolate for your mother, children have been abused in the production of the cocoa from which that chocolate has been made, whether it’s from Ganong Bros or Hershey’s. The chocolate industry excels in keeping this information secret, just as the clothing industry has kept secrets, some of which became public in the last couple weeks. After the factory collapse in Bangladesh that killed over 300 people on April 24th, we’ve become concerned about these clothing factories and the working conditions in them, but have we really become concerned enough to demand change? Loblaw’s Joe Fresh is compensating victims’ families and has resolved to ensure safer working conditions in Bangladeshi factories in the future. What about the other clothing retailers? Silence. Eighteen months before this tragedy, a fire in a Bangladesh textile factory killed 112 people. Walmart considered ensuring safer factories by doing regular inspections, but concluded that such inspections “could ultimately lead to higher costs for Walmart and higher prices for our customers. This would not be in the best interests of Walmart’s shareholders and customers and would place Walmart at a competitive disadvantage” (<a href="http://business.financialpost.com/2013/04/29/bangladesh-factory-collapse-loblaw/" target="_blank">Financial Post</a>). Unfortunately, it would seem that we would rather let these companies keep their secrets because, after all, we love falling prices at Walmart and chocolate bars that cost less than a dollar.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-n4rJkRZBlSQ/UY_bkHRyAAI/AAAAAAAAH0A/rTfmF1920Zg/s1600-h/Bangladesh%252520Factory%25255B50%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Bangladesh Factory" border="0" alt="Bangladesh Factory" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-W64Hm_jQU1s/UY_bkvvgu1I/AAAAAAAAH0E/zlsMVfFErks/Bangladesh%252520Factory_thumb%25255B48%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="577" height="462"></a></p> <p>We need mothers and others to stand up to the chocolate makers and say no more child abuse, unfair and unsafe child labour and child slavery. Surely our moral conscious can’t let us ignore the plight of 200,000 children in west Africa. Buying FairTrade chocolate will help, but the whole industry needs to change. FairTrade shouldn’t be a label on a select few chocolate bars, it should obviously be the norm, but today in Canada only one regular confectionary chocolate bar is certified FairTrade. Cadbury Dairy Milk is the only FairTrade chocolate bar, and it’s only the original Cadbury Dairy Milk bar, none of the specially flavoured ones. Every Kit Kat and Hershey’s bar has been produced by children doing things no mother would ever imagine their own children doing. Sobering thoughts for Mother’s Day, but it’s pretty important that we actually become aware of the truth if anything is going to change.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SiZHSEgtoGo/UY_bkyLmVPI/AAAAAAAAH0I/1yXlfJBZ6fo/s1600-h/bitter%252520truth%25255B123%25255D.jpg"><strong><a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.ca/2011/05/children-cocoa-chocolate.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 18px 5px 7px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="bitter truth" border="0" alt="bitter truth" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oIq2lE8oIVI/UY_blI0L0zI/AAAAAAAAH0U/V8Iw5GfJzFo/bitter%252520truth%25255B155%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="145"></a></strong></a><strong>Notes</strong>: For documentation of claims about chocolate made in this blog posting, please read my previous post “<a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.ca/2011/05/children-cocoa-chocolate.html" target="_blank">The children producing the cocoa never taste the chocolate</a>” which includes a clip for an outstanding video documentary. My regrets that I am not better informed about the clothing and textiles industry. I just saw in the news this week how we become so concerned in the midst of tragedy but so quick to forget when shopping for low prices—so parallel to my findings in cocoa production and chocolate sales.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:69cd1ad1-0b34-4b3f-8cd1-2c2a50c1057d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/chocolate" rel="tag">chocolate</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ganong" rel="tag">Ganong</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kit+Kat" rel="tag">Kit Kat</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hersheys+chocolate" rel="tag">Hersheys chocolate</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cocoa" rel="tag">cocoa</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/child+labour" rel="tag">child labour</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/child+labor" rel="tag">child labor</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/child+slavery" rel="tag">child slavery</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ivory+Coast" rel="tag">Ivory Coast</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ghana" rel="tag">Ghana</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/chocolate+industry" rel="tag">chocolate industry</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/FairTrade" rel="tag">FairTrade</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cadbury" rel="tag">Cadbury</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cadbury+Dairy+Milk" rel="tag">Cadbury Dairy Milk</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cocoa+production" rel="tag">cocoa production</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Joe+Fresh" rel="tag">Joe Fresh</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Loblaw's" rel="tag">Loblaw's</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Walmart" rel="tag">Walmart</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Mother's+Day" rel="tag">Mother's Day</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-12926947193240210842013-03-31T01:02:00.000-04:002013-04-01T01:05:04.539-04:00It’s Easter and the church is full<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-p-676isDECw/UVkUJW3-LoI/AAAAAAAAHoA/kH-akO6mJfQ/s1600-h/easter-lily-with-cross%25255B85%25255D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="easter-lily-with-cross" border="0" alt="easter-lily-with-cross" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OJ2xQfvUbDc/UVkUJ15LNGI/AAAAAAAAHoE/sA43zmM_wuY/easter-lily-with-cross_thumb%25255B83%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="268" height="180"></a>It’s great going to church on Easter Sunday and finding that the place is packed. Why should we ever complain about the church being too full? I’ve sat in almost empty churches before – not fun, quite disheartening. Yet some regular church attenders can be quite put out when they come on Easter Sunday and find the parking lot is full and “strangers” are sitting in their regular seats. Yes, these are those Christians who complain about the “Holly and Lily Christians” who only show up at Christmas and Easter.</p> <p>Personally, I don’t understand why people would only come to church two or three times a year, but I think it’s great that they come for Easter Sunday. It is the resurrection of Jesus that gives meaning to that Sunday and to all our Sunday church services. When the priest / pastor declares, “Christ is Risen!,” on Easter Sunday, I like hearing that large crowd sound of everyone responding together, “He is Risen Indeed.” If you’re only going to come one or twice a year, you couldn’t pick a better Sunday than Easter Sunday. So keep coming back!</p> <p>Rather than moaning that these people only show up twice a year, why don’t we do our best to celebrate Easter Sunday, pull out all the stops, sing the best songs, hear the clear exposition of the Scriptures, feel the warmth of true Christian fellowship, and participate in the most joyous Communion feast of the year. Why don’t we give people a reason to come back the following Sunday? What if the experience of Easter Sunday was so compelling that people would be eager to return next week? Think: crowds following Jesus. What kept them coming back?</p> <p><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2301995/Britney-Spears-slips-calf-length-lace-dress-Easter-Sunday-church-service.html" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 4px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Britney Spears walked into church with her mother and youngest son Jayden James, March 31, 2013" border="0" alt="britney spears at church" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tOKyxJbKjlA/UVkUKNLutfI/AAAAAAAAHn8/HNGU9OGD2uM/britney%252520spears%252520at%252520church%25255B84%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="283" height="335"></a>The reality is that far few people attend church than who claim to follow Christ, and maybe the church is partly to blame. Philip Yancey wrote a fascinating book on this subject called <em><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Church-Why-Bother-Philip-Yancey/dp/0310243130/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1364791313&sr=8-2" target="_blank">Church: Why Bother?</a></em> He talks about a period of his life in which he decided not to attend church, but to support it from the outside, “I am not alone… Some of them have stories similar to mine: they feel burned or even betrayed by a former church experience. Others simply ‘get nothing out of church.’” (p.20) We can dismiss these reasons, many do, or we can attempt to address them as valid concerns. I know I don’t like being bored at church. I know it’s painful when you feel betrayed by your pastor. And I know how good it is to be in a church that promotes healing in those hurt relationships and sees no benefit in being boring for the sake of tradition. Why should people bother coming to church? And when they do come why wouldn’t we celebrate it rather than complain? Britney Spears has made the headlines for all kinds of things as we all know, but I think it’s pretty cool that she hit the headlines today just for going to church on Easter. I can be happy about that.</p> <p>So let me suggest a new way to respond to those “Holly and Lily Christians.” How about saying, “Happy Easter! Great to see you” (or Merry Christmas on that other Sunday). Why not be brave and go further? “It’s great to see you today. I don’t think I’ve seen you since Christmas. I don’t know if you’d have any ideas, but I’ve been working on this project to redesign how we do church on Sundays. Do you have any ideas of what would make our church services more interesting, more compelling and more relevant to people? Any thoughts?” Now, of course, church is not entertainment or just crowd pleasing, so there may be answers that won’t be helpful, but I suspect some of the answers would be very interesting. We must ask ourselves how we’ve taken such a relevant message of great news and made it seem irrelevant to so many people today.</p><iframe height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Zczoz3bfeXo" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:ba750a41-8711-4c97-a419-031ecd80fe50" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/church" rel="tag">church</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/attendance" rel="tag">attendance</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Easter" rel="tag">Easter</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Britney+Spears" rel="tag">Britney Spears</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Christmas" rel="tag">Christmas</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Sunday" rel="tag">Sunday</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-74308830791786283452011-09-05T13:40:00.001-04:002011-09-05T13:42:29.733-04:00The book Chapters !ndigo somehow forgot<p>Chapters Indigo sent me an interesting email last week, something like this:</p> <p><a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/50books/?EMS_MID=EMSx321x40237" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Btq_BooksChangeLife" border="0" alt="Btq_BooksChangeLife" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rUk6AQ9VSRk/TmUJdCW7WuI/AAAAAAAAE3w/IFgOdhOG-rk/Btq_BooksChangeLife%25255B15%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" width="600" height="197"></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/NIV-Thinline-Bible-Zondervan/dp/0310438578/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315241345&sr=1-5" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="NIV Bible" border="0" alt="The NIV Bible" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lDcv4IsSe3Q/TmUJdcJNBtI/AAAAAAAAE3s/BXnAlLKi2J8/NIV%252520Bible%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="141" height="240"></a>You can click on the pic above, for Chapter !ndigo’s full list of 50 books, definitely some very good books. It seems to me that they forgot THE book that has changed far more lives than any of these. It has been more widely read than any of these 50 books and translated into more languages than all of these books put together. Martin Luther’s translation of THIS book reformed the German language much as the King James translation has shaped the English language. It is THE book that has forever changed my life and continues to transform my future. My source of hope, inspiration and direction. Reading it is unlike any other book, for in it the faithful hear God speak to them, an experience to which we must humbly respond, “Only let us live up to what we have already attained” (Philippians 3:16). If you’re going to make a list of books that will change your life, how could you possibly not include the most life changing book of all, The Holy Bible?</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:703ed722-b251-452d-a138-5fa3630136a8" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Bible" rel="tag">Bible</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Chapters+!ndigo" rel="tag">Chapters !ndigo</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Indigo" rel="tag">Indigo</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Chapters" rel="tag">Chapters</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/bible+translation" rel="tag">bible translation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/NIV+Bible" rel="tag">NIV Bible</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/books" rel="tag">books</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Catch-22" rel="tag">Catch-22</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Holy+Bible" rel="tag">Holy Bible</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Catcher+in+the+Rye" rel="tag">Catcher in the Rye</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Brief+History+of+Time" rel="tag">Brief History of Time</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/To+Kill+a+Mockingbird" rel="tag">To Kill a Mockingbird</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/TNIV" rel="tag">TNIV</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/KJV" rel="tag">KJV</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/King+James+Version" rel="tag">King James Version</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Brave+New+World" rel="tag">Brave New World</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Great+Gatsby" rel="tag">Great Gatsby</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-515743512104034382011-08-21T18:40:00.001-04:002011-08-21T18:40:11.085-04:00Michele Bachmann for Pastor<p><a href="http://www.bagnewsnotes.com/2011/08/the-picture-from-iowa-2012-bachmann-flaunts-intersection-of-church-and-state/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Michele Bachmann preaching" border="0" alt="Michele Bachmann preaching, picture by Brendan Hoffman" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hhngVKH6r2I/TlGJRUFt2-I/AAAAAAAAE0Q/te6GTD6WhQk/Michele%252520Bachmann%252520preaching%25255B179%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="388" height="251"></a>Michele Bachmann for President!? How about Michele Bachmann for Pastor? I don’t see her as a strong candidate for President of the United States, but after hearing Michele Bachmann preach at a church in Iowa, I’m convinced she would be a great candidate for becoming a pastor. It’s true she won the Ames Straw Poll last week in Iowa, but why did she win it? Wasn’t it because of Bachmann’s compelling Christian testimony and her faith-inspired conservative values? If so, isn’t this poll really telling us that Bachmann would be a great pastor more so than telling us she would be a good president? I really think she could be a great pastor. She would have to drop the political rhetoric and stick to her more compelling message about her faith, her experience as a Christian, and what she’s learned from the Bible. If she could do that, I could see her being a serious candidate for becoming a pastor. Bachmann’s passion would be far better applied on this church track rather than on this bid to become President.</p> <p>Michele Bachmann is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Minnesota, the first Republican woman to represent that state in Congress. In Washington DC, Bachmann founded and chairs the Tea Party Caucus within Congress. Now, with little to no political accomplishments, she’s a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2012 U.S. presidential election. And she seems to be very focused on winning the Iowa Caucuses which is the first step toward that goal. The Ames straw poll victory certainly helps her.</p> <p><object width="600" height="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jI2uccVRQ8Y?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jI2uccVRQ8Y?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="450" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p> <p>In the midst of this campaigning in Iowa, on Sunday, July 24, Michele Bachmann spoke at a conservative Christian church that bans women from leadership and preaching. New Life Community Church Pastor Brian Hagerman explained, “We generally would not have a woman to come to specifically teach because we feel God calls men as pastors to be the primary teachers of their churches.” Yet they did invite Michele Bachmann to this church in Marion, Iowa to “share her testimony”—to speak as one believer to fellow believers about what God had done and is doing in her life. They just did not want her teaching the Bible or speaking too heavily about politics.</p> <p>Doesn’t this beg the question as to whether Pastor Hagerman and the members of his church would actually vote for Michele Bachmann to become president? If you do not believe that women should be leaders or preachers in the church, would you be able to support a woman taking on the highest leadership role in the country? Often the belief that woman cannot lead in the church is accompanied by other conservative values like the belief that the man is “the head of household”—<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RQDhPJoxmEU/TlGJR9rSmPI/AAAAAAAAE0U/JCFAv6dA0VI/s1600-h/Presidents%252520Bush%252520Obama%252520Bush%252520Clinton%252520Carter%25255B102%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Presidents Bush Obama Bush Clinton Carter" border="0" alt="Presidents Bush Obama Bush Clinton Carter" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EnERD3zsnr0/TlGJSXsWZkI/AAAAAAAAE0Y/uHbWpqe0jmE/Presidents%252520Bush%252520Obama%252520Bush%252520Clinton%252520Carter_thumb%25255B100%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="285" height="215"></a>the key decision maker and the preference to see women staying at home rather than being in the workforce. I’ve certainly been in conservative churches that do not believe women should run for political office. In fairness, though, when asked the question, Pastor Hagerman said, “Outside of specifically leading a church or pastoring a church, I personally don’t read in scripture that God says a man can have this job and a woman have this job.” That seems a bit conflicted to me to believe that a woman cannot lead a church of 200 people but could lead one of the most powerful nations in the world.</p> <p>Today, there are a growing number of churches which recognize that Jesus fully included women in his teaching ministry and appointed a few of these female disciples to be the very first witnesses of his resurrection. To believe that only men should be leaders in the church like they do in Marion, Iowa is to disregard a lot of evidence for women in leadership in the New Testament church. The Apostle Paul, for example, when writing to the Romans, sends greetings to 27 people who helped to lead the church in Rome and 10 of them are women, more than one-third of the church’s leadership. He clearly identifies some of their titles and positions in the church such as Junia the “outstanding” apostle, Priscilla his “co-worker,” and Mary, Tryphena and Tryphosa who “worked very hard” for the church. Not only that, this letter to the Romans which some regard as Paul’s greatest theological work was delivered to Rome by Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae. It is more than likely that she would’ve presented it to the church in Rome, having been commended to the church by Paul, thus preaching the words written by the apostle. Given this reality of women in leadership in the New Testament era church, there is no reason why women should not be serving as teachers, preachers and pastors in our churches today.</p> <p><a href="http://www.bagnewsnotes.com/2011/08/the-picture-from-iowa-2012-bachmann-flaunts-intersection-of-church-and-state/" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Bachmann prays" border="0" alt="Bachmann prays, pic by Brendan Hoffman" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wM0jj8V12a0/TlGJSro8Z9I/AAAAAAAAE0c/ohdwHxOSri8/Bachmann%252520prays%25255B55%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="330" height="270"></a>Michele Bachmann is a strong candidate to become a pastor. Though New Life Community Church in Iowa said that Bachmann was not to teach from the Bible, in her speech that day, she preached a sermon, easily the best preaching I’ve heard this year. It was great. She was interesting and engaging as she shared how she grew up in the church yet somehow missed the gospel, but later did become a Christian and decided to live as a Christian making a difference in this world just as God was calling her to do. And, then, she riveted everyone’s attention as she opened the Bible and began to preach. “This is a wonderful story in 1 Samuel 14 that I want to share with you.... [King] Saul was so disheartened that he didn’t know what to do. But his son Jonathan did not give up hope. He had a heart that would not be defeated. He had a heart that said we can do this.” Bachmann continued, narrating through this incredible biblical story of courage and faith. Then, with Billy Graham-like passion, she made that Scripture come alive to every person listening, as she preached, “Oftentimes challenges that come into our life, whether they are small or whether they are large like Jonathan was facing—those challenges are often brilliantly disguised by our God as an opportunity for him to show his greatness. That he is powerful to save. And so I say to you this morning... never look at a challenge and think that you go it alone. Never think that we serve a God who is not mighty to save. He prevails.... Don’t think for a moment that he is not more powerful yet to save.” Amen!</p> <p>I’ve had the opportunity to hear several new preachers fresh out of seminary preach this year as well as a few seasoned pastors. None of them had even a quarter of the passion and power with which Michele Bachmann delivered that message. Look, I don’t understand her political views or how the Republicans could even consider her to be a good candidate for the presidency when she actually advocated for defaulting on the U.S. debt, but I do know that Michele Bachmann can preach. She’s a passionate Christian who sincerely wants to live for God. When you look at what is best about Michele Bachmann’s campaign presentations in Iowa—her biblical preaching, her faith and her Christian values, let’s be serious, she is a great candidate for becoming a pastor. I, for one, would vote for her to be pastor of a church, but not President of the United States.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:1efe56bf-b40c-4502-aa65-e6aaa551d9ee" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Michele+Bachmann" rel="tag">Michele Bachmann</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Iowa" rel="tag">Iowa</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/New+Life+Community+Church" rel="tag">New Life Community Church</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Marion+Iowa" rel="tag">Marion Iowa</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/President+of+the+United+States" rel="tag">President of the United States</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Republican+candidate" rel="tag">Republican candidate</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Michelle+Bachmann" rel="tag">Michelle Bachmann</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/women+preaching" rel="tag">women preaching</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/women+in+leadership" rel="tag">women in leadership</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/women+pastors" rel="tag">women pastors</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Phoebe+deacon" rel="tag">Phoebe deacon</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Junia" rel="tag">Junia</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Romans+16" rel="tag">Romans 16</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/role+of+women+in+the+church" rel="tag">role of women in the church</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/conservative+churches" rel="tag">conservative churches</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Brian+Hagerman" rel="tag">Brian Hagerman</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Jonathan" rel="tag">Jonathan</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/armour-bearer" rel="tag">armour-bearer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/armor-bearer" rel="tag">armor-bearer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/1+Samuel+14" rel="tag">1 Samuel 14</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-61319153086023216742011-07-26T14:15:00.001-04:002011-07-26T14:26:38.359-04:00Children are more important than chocolate<p><object width="600" height="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5o-2uNCUzhc?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5o-2uNCUzhc?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="450" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p> <p>It sounds like a good news story, doesn’t it? Nestle is really helping Ivory Coast by distributing saplings that will grow into disease-resistant cocoa trees. This will greatly boost productivity and improve the quality of the cocoa beans. But is this really a good news story? What about the quality of life for the 200,000 children who labour in the cocoa jungles of Ivory Coast? What about the child slaves trafficked from Burkino Faso and Mali included in that number? Why isn’t Nestle doing something to help these children? They could’ve linked the distribution of these new cocoa trees to programs that are working to eliminate child slavery and end the worst forms of child labour.</p> <p>The good news story is actually happening in Cameroon, the fourth largest cocoa-producing country. Companies like Mars and Cadbury have been impressed by research that shows that farmers in Cameroon cultivate cocoa trees in a more sustainable way that essentially preserves and renews the rainforest.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DOK6WxzrDFk/Ti8G2xwZX0I/AAAAAAAAExA/dU8JtncDR-A/s1600-h/Cargill%252520trains%252520Cameroon%252520cocoa%252520farmers%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Cargill trains Cameroon cocoa farmers" border="0" alt="Cargill trains Cameroon cocoa farmers" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zYIW8dpyjd8/Ti8G3RLJRJI/AAAAAAAAExE/pR-TXfrhb4I/Cargill%252520trains%252520Cameroon%252520cocoa%252520farmers_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="403" height="270"></a> This is in great contrast to the monoculture cocoa farms of the Ivory Coast where the rainforest is being razed and then with time the cocoa trees are becoming less productive. What impresses me even more is that Cameroon does not have the same high rate of child labour that keeps children from attending school nor is the country known for the same extensive practice of child trafficking and slavery. <a href="http://atlas.aaas.org/index.php?part=4&sec=cocoa" target="_blank">Martin Gilmour</a>, UK-based cocoa research manager for Mars, says, “We would like to see farmers get higher prices for their cocoa. It would be better for both of us.” And it would help to eliminate the so-called “need” for child labour. So <a href="http://www.confectionerynews.com/Markets/Cargill-in-bid-to-boost-sustainable-cocoa-in-Cameroon" target="_blank">Cargill</a>, a big cocoa purchaser and bulk chocolate producer for companies like Cadbury and Mars, is rolling out its UTZ certification farmer training programme in Cameroon which should dramatically boost their sustainable cocoa output. This <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UTZ_Certified#Good_Inside_Cocoa_Program" target="_blank">UTZ certification</a> means working with the ILO to eliminate the worst forms of child labour which includes slavery and denial of schooling. Thus, Cameroon is already in a better position than Ivory Coast when it comes to child labour and now the chocolate companies are seeing the benefit of investing in Cameroon’s cocoa production in a way that will go further to eliminating the worst forms of child labour and improving sustainability. Excellent! Now why wasn’t this good news story broadcast on TV?<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JkxKF4JTakc/Ti8ETUug6QI/AAAAAAAAEw4/hdX41WQ5a44/s1600-h/Hersheys-Smores9.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 2px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Hersheys Smores" border="0" alt="Hersheys Smores" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bY70lG-HMC8/Ti8ET6jbPZI/AAAAAAAAEw8/JiHzMRcDW_M/Hersheys-Smores_thumb11.jpg?imgmax=800" width="232" height="208"></a></p> <p>Finally, summer time makes is a great time to tell Hershey’s that we want more from our S’mores! That’s right, we want fair trade chocolate in our S’mores. Hershey’s Chocolate made S’mores to be the popular treat they are, but they don’t produce any fair trade chocolate bars. As a chocolate company they continue to show a resistance to doing anything about the serious child labour and slavery problem in West Africa. I mentioned above that Mars and Cadbury are speaking up and Cargill is listening, but Hershey remains silent. <a href="http://www.raisethebarhershey.org/" target="_blank">Raise the Bar, Hershey</a> is an excellent website giving many practical ways for us to get involved in the fight against child slavery and abusive child labour in West Africa.</p> <p><object width="600" height="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lWP6q79ft4g?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lWP6q79ft4g?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="450" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p> <p><a href="http://raisethebarhershey.org" target="_blank"><img style="display: inline; float: left" border="0" alt="Raise The Bar" align="left" src="http://i1020.photobucket.com/albums/af321/liluspics2/hersheybutton-1.png"></a></p> <p> </p> <p>P.S. It’s hard to ever truly find a good news story when it comes to cocoa coming from West Africa. The sources I cited above may have not been entirely accurate in their assessment of child labour in Cameroon’s cocoa industry. <a href="http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/1208/Child-labor" target="_blank">This episode of the BBC World TV series "Survivors Guide"</a> looks at the ILO’s project in Cameroon. Sobering, to say the least.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:b4763fc0-235e-4a2c-80da-8a2065e335cc" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Nestle" rel="tag">Nestle</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ivory+Coast" rel="tag">Ivory Coast</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Mars+bar" rel="tag">Mars bar</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cadbury" rel="tag">Cadbury</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cargill" rel="tag">Cargill</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cameroon" rel="tag">Cameroon</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/UTZ+certification" rel="tag">UTZ certification</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cocoa+slavery" rel="tag">cocoa slavery</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cocoa+industry" rel="tag">cocoa industry</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hershey" rel="tag">Hershey</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/S'mores" rel="tag">S'mores</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/chocolate" rel="tag">chocolate</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hershey's+chocolate" rel="tag">Hershey's chocolate</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/child+labour" rel="tag">child labour</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/IO" rel="tag">IO</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/child+slavery" rel="tag">child slavery</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/smores" rel="tag">smores</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-50987000545176197082011-07-18T15:15:00.001-04:002011-07-19T15:51:18.708-04:00Why the world needs Superman<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RqyPvLfWfms/TiSGVSqXvuI/AAAAAAAAEu4/0hb7_gj2JQA/s1600-h/Superman%252520responds%252520to%252520US%252520criticism%25255B139%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Superman responds to US criticism -- you'll have to buy Action Comics 900 to find out what happend in Iran as he was flying away" border="0" alt="Superman responds to US criticism -- you'll have to buy Action Comics 900 to find out what happend in Iran as he was flying away" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UOoIxKvd1Pg/TiSGVxNDT3I/AAAAAAAAEu8/TgDaO3jZwrg/Superman%252520responds%252520to%252520US%252520criticism_thumb%25255B137%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="234" height="540"></a>Superman renounced his U.S. citizenship! <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPfOAHoLrMI" target="_blank">Fox News</a> got all upset and Mike Huckabee was disturbed last month when Action Comics #900 was released. I just had to get my own copy of this comic — no small feat as the publicity caused it to sell out fast everywhere. In spite of the media frenzy, the comic book story wasn’t really about Superman renouncing his U.S. citizenship. (Mike Huckabee who was so disturbed by this notion had not even bothered to read the comic before condemning it.) The story was more about the limitations of a superhero and how little Superman could actually do during the protests of the Arab Spring. Superman chose to stand with a large group of peaceful, non-resistant protesters demonstrating in Iran. He admitted this was a problem he couldn’t solve with his superpowers, but he could show his support and he did by standing with them — an action which landed Superman in trouble with the U.S. government. (Since Fox News doesn’t want him, we’ll glady give Superman Canadian citizenship. After all his Fortress of Solitude has always been in the Canadian Arctic.)</p> <p>June, as it turns out, was quite the month for the iconic superhero. It saw the 10-year series finale of <em>Smallville</em>, the show all about the coming of age of Superman (Clark Kent). After watching it, a good friend of mine said, “It was pretty good even though I never watched <em>Smallville</em> before. They built up the anticipation and made you want to see Superman fly.” Humoured, I replied, “The anticipation you experienced in those two hours, I’ve been experiencing over the last 10 years! They definitely built up the anticipation. I’ve been watching and waiting for 10 years now to see the blue suit, the red cape, the first flight and the emergence of Superman.”</p> <p>Action Comics #900 (and other Superman comics too), the TV series <em>Smallville</em> and even the song <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/fiveforfighting#p/f/2/GRz4FY0ZcwI" target="_blank">“Superman (It’s not easy)” by Five for Fighting</a> are examples of the postmodern revision of Superman. In these last few years, we’ve learned that behind the legend and the cape, there is suffering — a vulnerable hero, sometimes unsure of himself, lonely and insecure, hurting but hoping. And we had thought he was almost a god, invincible and invulnerable, a superhuman alien, the last son of Krypton. Tom Welling in <em>Smallville</em> and Brandon Routh in <em>Superman Returns</em> have revealed this more human, more sympathetic, and more vulnerable side of Superman. In the 2006 movie Superman almost dies, sacrificing himself to save the earth. This whole new way of understanding Superman’s limitations and his “humanness” may have begun in the remarkable 1992 comic “The Death of Superman.”</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fjTrW0i7XIk/TiSGWOmUg_I/AAAAAAAAEtg/-ITEY4VcvoQ/s1600-h/Superman-then-and-now%25255B44%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Superman-then-and-now" border="0" alt="Superman-then-and-now" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RBlSZDxPyPU/TiSGWv_lORI/AAAAAAAAEtk/wAT70S6iuQI/Superman-then-and-now_thumb%25255B42%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="186" height="163"></a>This revision of Superman really does make sense. When I think back to my childhood dream of becoming Superman and being able to defeat every foe and solve every problem while never being hurt by anyone nor feeling any of this world’s pain, I realize now that wasn’t quite realistic. Seriously, how could a hero, a true hero, be untouched and uninvolved in this world’s suffering? To be a hero these days, Superman must push himself through constant trials, experience pain, and be willing to sacrifice himself. Contrast the Brandon Routh Superman of <em>Superman Returns</em> (2006) who struggles intensely and must use every ounce of his ingenuity, strength and speed to save a passenger jet spinning out of control — contrast him with the Christopher Reeve Superman of the original <em>Superman</em> movie (1978) who effortlessly rescued Air Force One by subbing in for an engine. This new young hero raised in Smallville who goes through trials and struggles to become Superman is truly a superhero.</p> <p><object width="599" height="341"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eeZNM7cD0Do?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eeZNM7cD0Do?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="599" height="341" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p> <p>What 9/11 taught us about heroes is that they sacrifice themselves to save others, they put themselves in harm’s way, they suffer and more often than we realized, they die in the line of duty. In Canada, the Highway of Heroes is the road travelled when fallen soldiers are returned from Afghanistan. People line the way, standing with firefighters and other emergency workers to pay tribute to our military heroes. Christians ought to pay close attention to this redefinition of “heroes” and revision of Superman. After all, we follow a Saviour who said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).</p> <p>Yet the church is still caught up in the modern era triumphalism that produced the invincible and invulnerable Superman. Whey else would we think it odd when we as Christians are touched by and involved in this world’s suffering? Why do we question the goodness of God when a young father is diagnosed with terminal cancer? Why do we as Christians believe that we should feel no pain and be healed from all diseases? Why are we so prone to insist that God should intervene at every turn and save us from harm? (Really listen to our group prayers! See what we really believe.) We don’t expect a fellow believer to land a lousy job and be underpaid or to suffer from depression or to be unable to save their marriage. Why do we protest so loudly when the way is hard and the path uncertain? Isn’t it true that the church today celebrates success, wealth and victory? Triumph to triumph!</p> <p>Perhaps we’ve gotten our heroes of the faith all wrong by worshipping success. Maybe this isn’t God’s way of changing the world. Isn’t it just possible that the heroes God calls us to be in this world will struggle and be unsure at times, be vulnerable and caught up in this misery of this world, perhaps find themselves alone, hurting yet hoping. I suspect these are exactly the kind of heroes God is using to change the world. Consider again the Beatitudes, that list of what God rewards. As Christians, aren’t we called to follow the way of our real Superhero, Jesus? </p> <blockquote> <p><em>And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the <strong>Superhero</strong> and Perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.</em> (Hebrews 12:1b-3, NIV but improved)</p></blockquote> <p>Here’s the reason I wrote this article on today’s Superman: We need a better way to translate the Greek word αρχηγος (<em>archagos</em>) which is used to describe Jesus four times in the New Testament (The verse above, Hebrews 12:2, and 2:10; Acts 3:15, 5:31). Our typical translations like “author” and “pioneer” fall way short of the powerful meaning packed in the Greek word αρχηγος. Though they get at some aspect of the meaning, I don’t think terms like this say enough. The mighty Hercules, really the ancient Greek version of Superman, the half-human and half-divine hero, was called both αρχηγος and saviour — superhero and saviour. These are exactly the Greek terms used of Jesus in Acts 5:31! Anyone familiar with the legend of Hercules wouldn’t imagine calling him an “author” or a “pioneer,”<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7X6Zddrj_d0/TiXfKqqiT8I/AAAAAAAAEwQ/IMMj6MolHdc/s1600-h/becoming%252520Superman%25255B29%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 2px 5px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Christopher Reeve's Clark Kent becoming Superman" border="0" alt="becoming Superman" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-goKbNBozm_g/TiXfTvCNv6I/AAAAAAAAEwU/h1_ZXXHCLSI/becoming%252520Superman_thumb%25255B29%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="228" height="354"></a> certainly not a “prince”—such words do not do him justice. Nor do I think that such weak translations of αρχηγος, though they convey some element of truth, are adequate translations of this title when applied to Jesus. It would be much better to capitalize on today’s understanding of what makes a hero and proclaim Jesus to be our Superhero and Saviour (rather than “Prince and Saviour” as in the NIV of Acts 5:31). He is the one who can show us how to make a difference in this world. </p> <p>When I read what Hebrews 2:10-18 says about Jesus, I see a hero who shared in our humanity, suffered in his flesh and sacrificed himself for us. Through the trials, temptations and suffering, he proved himself faithful. Because of what he experienced, Jesus is merciful toward us, ready to help us, able to make us like himself, faithful to the end. This Superhero saves us, inspires us and is transforming us to be like himself in this world. It may not be easy, but these are the heroes the world needs to see emerging from the church today, real heroes who will make a difference.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:6f73f8c0-91d9-4989-8929-02c2a093fb2d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/archagos" rel="tag">archagos</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Superman" rel="tag">Superman</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Action+Comics+%23900" rel="tag">Action Comics #900</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Smallville" rel="tag">Smallville</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Superman+Returns" rel="tag">Superman Returns</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Superman+The+Movie" rel="tag">Superman The Movie</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/superhero" rel="tag">superhero</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/heroes" rel="tag">heroes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/archegos" rel="tag">archegos</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Jesus+Christ" rel="tag">Jesus Christ</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hebrews+12%3a2" rel="tag">Hebrews 12:2</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hebrews+2%3a10" rel="tag">Hebrews 2:10</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Acts+3%3a15" rel="tag">Acts 3:15</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Acts+5%3a31" rel="tag">Acts 5:31</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/pioneer" rel="tag">pioneer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/author+and+finisher" rel="tag">author and finisher</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/saviour" rel="tag">saviour</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/hero" rel="tag">hero</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/forerunner" rel="tag">forerunner</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hercules" rel="tag">Hercules</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Clark+Kent" rel="tag">Clark Kent</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Tom+Welling" rel="tag">Tom Welling</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Brandon+Routh" rel="tag">Brandon Routh</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Christopher+Reeve" rel="tag">Christopher Reeve</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Jesus" rel="tag">Jesus</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/suffering" rel="tag">suffering</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Action+Comics+900" rel="tag">Action Comics 900</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Fox+News" rel="tag">Fox News</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Mike+Huckabee" rel="tag">Mike Huckabee</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Highway+of+Heroes" rel="tag">Highway of Heroes</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-756769697068849532011-07-05T04:27:00.001-04:002011-07-05T04:27:12.764-04:00Canada’s Ganong chocolate factory expands: bittersweet news<p>In late June, Ganong Bros. Ltd, Canada’s oldest chocolate factory, announced a $10 million expansion that will increase the size of their factory by 10%, add 30-40 jobs and allow them to potentially increase their sales volume by 25%. This was made possible in part by $5 million in loans from the province and the federal government, but it seems to me this “good” news is actually “bittersweet” at best. </p> <p><object width="600" height="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/A9qNJkpgfXo?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/A9qNJkpgfXo?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="450" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tXRI7p6hD_g/ThLKzMW7c2I/AAAAAAAAErE/79xot4z2P5Y/s1600-h/chocolate%252520New%252520Brunswick%25255B40%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="chocolate New Brunswick" border="0" alt="chocolate New Brunswick" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rnv9LLTBaa4/ThLKz0NQNsI/AAAAAAAAErI/cx2VsT4R_x8/chocolate%252520New%252520Brunswick_thumb%25255B38%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="182" height="197"></a>At the June 24 announcement, Premier David Alward said, “This is a very positive day for Charlotte County, for St. Stephen and more importantly for New Brunswick.” It seems the premier was assuming the 30-40 news jobs would be going to people in St. Stephen and Charlotte County, but at this same event David Ganong, chair of the board, made clear they would outsource the jobs if they could not find qualified New Brunswickers. They’ve previously hired dozens of foreign workers. New Brunswick’s unemployment is at 9.5% and with the province now putting $3 million toward this new expansion, you would think asking Ganong Bros. to guarantee that jobs would go to New Brunswickers, even if training was required, would’ve been smart. So the news is not as good as it could have been.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--hniyxtWptY/ThLK0lhHN-I/AAAAAAAAErM/EeOkkK1o3Vs/s1600-h/Ganong%252520Bros%252520chocolate%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Ganong Bros chocolate" border="0" alt="Ganong Bros chocolate" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NHKL88tBexM/ThLK1KtOXeI/AAAAAAAAErQ/G9SSj80pSRM/Ganong%252520Bros%252520chocolate_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="201" height="216"></a>The federal government, through the Atlantic Canadian Opportunities Agency, put $2 million toward the expansion at the St. Stephen factory which is happening in part because Ganong Bros. landed a long-term contract with a major international customer, with the details still being top secret. This introduces international trade issues which no one spoke about at the announcement. </p> <p>Ganong Bros. makes a variety of chocolate and candy confections, but they do not source their own cocoa beans or even make their own chocolate. They purchase bulk chocolate which is melted and used to create the fine chocolate treats Canadians have enjoyed from Ganong for 138 years now, including Delecto assorted chocolates and Chicken Bones. It’s common practice, nearly ever chocolatier in Canada uses bulk chocolate. No one wants to talk about the serious ethical issues involved in the purchase and resale of bulk chocolate, but the federal government ought to take a stand. </p> <p>Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana supply about 67% of the world’s chocolate, but it is increasingly coming to light that both countries have children labouring in the cocoa jungles. In many cases, children do not go to school, but instead work long hard days doing work far too dangerous for them.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3Ex3j9uiJeI/ThLK15IvkAI/AAAAAAAAErU/gXtc6bT-uvQ/s1600-h/bitter%252520truth%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="bitter truth" border="0" alt="bitter truth" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4evOBzVE-B0/ThLK22oI4cI/AAAAAAAAErY/-1KvRcjzXLM/bitter%252520truth_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="317" height="180"></a> CBC Reporter Carol Off investigated the dark side of the cocoa industry in her book <em>Bitter Chocolate</em> and the BBC Panorama documentary <em>Chocolate: The Bitter Truth</em> backed up her findings and presented more evidence. What is this bitter truth? The children who labour so hard to produce the cocoa never taste the Ganong chocolates or any other chocolate for that matter. Not only are children forced to work, but the desperately poor cocoa farmers have also resorted to trafficking children from other West African countries and putting them to work as slaves. We know this is happening and, yet, to date, Canada has done nothing about it, continuing to import the West African cocoa beans and doing nothing to discourage the practice of child labour and child slavery.</p> <p>We can’t pretend this investment from our federal government at Ganong Bros. is not a failure to do something to help change the plight of the children of West Africa. Why couldn’t the federal government, for example, have made their investment contingent on Ganong Bros. committing to making 25% of their chocolate products from Fair Trade chocolate (which improves the working conditions for children, gets them into school, and eliminates slavery). How long will Canadians be content to happily eat chocolate produced from cocoa harvested by child labourers and child slaves? </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hL7kqJ1yXQA/ThLK3ZLXuCI/AAAAAAAAErc/FPi7ShgGa4U/s1600-h/Stop%252520chocolate%252520child%252520slavery%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Stop chocolate child slavery" border="0" alt="Stop chocolate child slavery" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QlKZ7ZF5SXs/ThLK3wTDpAI/AAAAAAAAErg/Rmxjn22e5lE/Stop%252520chocolate%252520child%252520slavery_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="129" height="188"></a>Jesus said, “Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did not do for me” (Matt 23:45). Don’t we have a moral obligation to work against slavery, especially to end child trafficking and slavery? Or should we just go one indulging in our Ganong chocolate truffles pretending that we’re not contributing to the forced labour of children in West Africa? Can we treat our kids with Kit Kats and Snickers while ignoring the plight of the children who produce the cocoa but never taste the chocolate? I can’t do it anymore. And I would like to see Canada do something about it. I’m writing to the New Brunswick premier, the federal minister responsible for ACOA and others; I’ll keep you posted. </p> <p>In the meantime, I was going to post the fourth and final installment of the documentary <em>Chocolate: The Bitter Truth</em>, just in case you have not finished viewing it as I have previously posted the first three parts. Unfortunately, the high quality youtube video I had previously posted is no longer available. I’ll post this video which is part 4 of 5. You can click on the youtube button to find the fifth part. Listen carefully, it’s alarming.</p> <p><object width="600" height="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/V2cukoecMrA?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/V2cukoecMrA?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="450" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:addc0561-b4c6-441b-bcb4-ac68d8c5548a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/chocolate" rel="tag">chocolate</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ganong" rel="tag">Ganong</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/New+Brunswick" rel="tag">New Brunswick</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cocoa" rel="tag">cocoa</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/child+slavery" rel="tag">child slavery</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/child+labour" rel="tag">child labour</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ivory+Coast" rel="tag">Ivory Coast</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ghana" rel="tag">Ghana</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/west+Africa" rel="tag">west Africa</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/bulk+chocolate" rel="tag">bulk chocolate</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/St.+Stephen" rel="tag">St. Stephen</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Carol+Off" rel="tag">Carol Off</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Panorama" rel="tag">Panorama</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Chocolate%3a+The+Bitter+Truth" rel="tag">Chocolate: The Bitter Truth</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kit+Kat" rel="tag">Kit Kat</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Snickers" rel="tag">Snickers</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Delecto" rel="tag">Delecto</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/chicken+bones" rel="tag">chicken bones</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cocoa+slavery" rel="tag">cocoa slavery</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/chocolate+industry" rel="tag">chocolate industry</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Premier+David+Alward" rel="tag">Premier David Alward</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/ACOA" rel="tag">ACOA</a></div></p> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-22002792659215568492011-05-15T18:56:00.001-04:002011-05-15T19:41:39.080-04:00Providence, Tim Hortons coffee and prayer<p>Providence is the expression of God’s care in everyday events. Tim Hortons coffee is delicious, especially double double. And pray matters. I read a great news article this week about two New Brunswick police officers who are convinced they saw providence at work last Thursday (and, yes, it also involved Tim Hortons coffee and prayer). Their decisions on a road trip that day had them running behind schedule, but put them at the right place at the right time to help save a man who was attempting to commit suicide. Heather McLaughlin did excellent work reporting on this in an article titled “God’s got another plan for you.” The following is a condensed version. (To read the full text, go to <a href="http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/front/article/1405329&p=6" target="_blank">TheDailyGleaner.com</a>.) </p> <p><font color="#000000">A man is alive because two Fredericton police officers were [running] late. The timing put them in the right place at the right time to intervene in an attempted suicide. On May 5, Sgt. Tim Durling and Staff Sgt. Kathy Alchorn were en route to Charlottetown, PEI, to visit the Atlantic Police Academy… Durling insisted they travel through Maugerville to catch a glimpse of flood conditions before hitting the four-lane Trans-Canada Highway. “If you didn't take this cow path, we'd be halfway to Moncton right now,” Alchorn teasingly scolded Durling, who was driving.</font> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TdBaGyB1jBI/AAAAAAAAEa8/UB2AEeFmyes/s1600-h/Tim%20Hortons%20Drive%20Thru%5B29%5D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TdBaGyB1jBI/AAAAAAAAEbA/dCpzZ9Jv4sg/s1600-h/Tim%20Hortons%20Drive%20Thru%5B57%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Tim Hortons Drive Thru" border="0" alt="Tim Hortons Drive Thru" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TdBaJGr2D-I/AAAAAAAAEYc/TNHQFlZ7YR8/Tim%20Hortons%20Drive%20Thru_thumb%5B55%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="318" height="213"></a></font></a><font color="#000000">Add in a coffee run through the Tim Hortons drive-thru near the Silver Fox Irving turnoff at Salisbury and the pair was running behind schedule. “There was a million reasons why we shouldn't have been there when we were ... Kathy and I both agree and I believe it definitely has to be divine intervention. It was just too freaky,” Durling said.</font> <p><font color="#000000">“The timing was pretty critical,” Alchorn said. “It was kind of weird that nobody else had stopped. He was very evident and I just couldn’t imagine how you wouldn't notice. A couple of seconds later, he would have been gone.”</font> <p><font color="#000000">About 12 kilometres past the Silver Fox Irving at 10:45 a.m., they crossed a highway overpass and were close to the exit off the four-lane highway that leads to Moncton and Riverview. “I observed a car parked on the side of the road with its four-way flashers on. Then I looked and saw a man sitting on the rail of the overpass with what appeared to be a white rope. Kathy and I just looked at each other and said, ‘Did you just see what I saw?’”</font> <p><font color="#000000">Alchorn had made eye contact with the man when they drove past. “He was looking over his shoulder all the time and when he turned around I looked right at him and I could see in his face, in his expression there was something wrong and when Tim started backing up, he was looking at us,” Alchorn said.</font> <p><font color="#000000">“As we’re backing up, he jumped. So we jumped out and ran as fast as we could and we looked over and the rope failed,” Durling said. Below them as they peered down from the highway, Durling and Alchorn expected to see the man’s body on a roadway. Instead the motionless man lay alongside a set of train tracks. “I hollered to Kathy to call 9-1-1 and she runs to get her cellphone. I take off down the embankment to the guy and as I’m getting there, I can hear a noise that's not familiar to me.”</font> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TdBaJm4xvcI/AAAAAAAAEbE/z8Q4YkY7GQk/s1600-h/CN%20Train%5B21%5D.jpg"><font color="#000000"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TdBaJm4xvcI/AAAAAAAAEbI/TVqwaYdmEi4/s1600-h/CN%20Train%5B81%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="CN Train" border="0" alt="CN Train" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TdBaK_YJ33I/AAAAAAAAEaw/EI_wz1GqTGg/CN%20Train_thumb%5B79%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="298" height="200"></a></font></a><font color="#000000">“I’m checking the guy out to see what’s going on and I look up and see a train coming. I grabbed him and moved him away from the tracks and 30 to 40 seconds later a train goes by,” Durling said. “I didn't have a choice (about moving him). It was life or limb.”</font> <p><font color="#000000">When Durling propped up the man, he stirred to consciousness, although he was in shock, his neck and hands showing rope burns. “I saw you coming to help,” the man mumbled.</font> <p><font color="#000000">Durling noticed the man had a set of rosary beads with him. “I knew he did some business with God, so I said ‘God's got another plan for you buddy and it’s not to die today,’” Durling told the man…</font> <p><font color="#000000">Although the man had tied one end of his rope around the guard rail, he didn't have a chance to firmly knot the rope around his neck because the officers were rushing towards him. But he managed to entwine it around his neck a couple of times. Durling said that helped spare his life because the rope held long enough to break the man’s fall before he hit the ground.</font> <p><font color="#000000">Had the two police officers been a little later in arriving - and the man tied the noose around his neck - he would have strangled himself to death. “There’s definitely divine intervention there,” Durling said. </font> <p><font color="#000000">Several vehicles passed by the man and vehicle, but no one stopped. Durling credited their police training, including the skills they develop to observe a situation, as helping them respond in the way they did. A casual driver going by might have only assumed the vehicle was broken down and not looked closely enough at the unfolding scenario.</font> <p><font color="#000000"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TdBgc1hDmDI/AAAAAAAAEbM/K-31s7zUH1c/s1600-h/Fredericton%20police%20officers%5B195%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Fredericton police officers" border="0" alt="Fredericton police officers" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TdBgdfy1SiI/AAAAAAAAEbQ/E7cCAXyrMiI/Fredericton%20police%20officers_thumb%5B199%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="273"></a>Alchorn said police and paramedics took over from the police officers to transport the man to hospital. “He’s doing pretty good. He’s in stable condition in the Moncton Hospital with a lot of broken bones and things of that nature,” Durling said. The man has begun talking to his family and the police officers have since learned that family issues were a factor in his decision to try to end his life. “We were glad that we were able to assist,” Durling said. “He’s alive. That’s the good side of the story. It’s a sad situation, but maybe it will have a good outcome. I know he’s going to get some help where he is.” The two officers hope to travel to Moncton in a week or so to visit the man to see how he’s doing.</font> <p>There were some very interesting comments posted in response to this news article. Some people took exception to the article giving credit to God for saving the man’s life when they believe it was clearly the training of the police officers in action that rescued the man. To be fair, though, it is not the reporter who makes this about God’s providence, but the police offers themselves who “believe it definitely has to be divine intervention” that was involved in their decisions that day: in choosing their slower route and driving through a Timmies. Personally, I’m inclined to accept their interpretation. The man who jumped had been praying, and through a series of everyday decisions two police officers were there to save him just in time. I know this may generate questions about why God does not intervene in so many other things happening in our world, and yet I find myself unable to abandon my belief that God rescues those who cry to him for mercy. And sometimes we find ourselves making the same realization as Sgt. Tim Durling and Staff Sgt. Kathy Alchorn, that somehow God has put us at the right place at the right time to show his care to someone in need. <p>What do you think? Do you believe in providence? Could a stop for an unplanned Tim Hortons coffee be the decision God uses to put you at the right place at the right time? Are you doing God’s will? If so, why couldn’t he reach out and care for another person through you at just the right time? <p>I’ve selected a few comments to re-post here that were originally posted in response to the news article (see link above). These comments could probably generate some good discussion. How would you respond? What do you think about divine providence? <p><font color="#0000ff">"There's definitely divine intervention there"<br>Seriously? Come on. Does this mean god wants people to die when the police or emergency officers arrive a moment too late?<br>This was good police work - what they are paid to do. Thanks for looking out for your fellow man. <br></font><strong>Thereis Nogod, Saint John</strong> on 11/05/11 09:13:06 AM ADT <p><font color="#0000ff">For the mans' sake, I am glad you were late. Glad also to see you put your training to the test and it produced a favourable outcome. Although some would say it was divine intervention, I would rather it be said that your ability to observe, rationalize and act in accordance with the skills you have learned as police officers saved this mans life. Congratulations on a job well done.<br></font><strong>Pierre ---, Fredericton</strong> on 11/05/11 09:28:49 AM ADT <p><font color="#0000ff">God's plan indeed! Outstanding job by the police officers! Nice [to] read a storey with a good ending for a change. Hopefully the man gets the help he needs. God bless him and his rescuers!<br></font><strong>M M, Grandlake</strong> on 11/05/11 09:49:17 AM ADT <p><font color="#0000ff">Good work officers.<br>Sgt. Durling's decision to see the flood conditions was his and not God's though.<br></font><strong>john ---, quispamsis</strong> on 11/05/11 10:11:14 AM ADT</p> <p><font color="#0000ff">Police Officers like these two don't get (or give themselves) nearly enough credit by attributing any of this to "divine intervention." <br></font><strong>HAL 9000, Fredericton</strong> on 11/05/11 12:32:59 PM ADT <p><font color="#000000"><font color="#0000ff">They wouldn't dare mention God if they hadn't have made it on time. Only when the outcome is positive do they claim their deity had anything to do with it.<br>Imagine if they claimed God had another plan for him if he got hit by a train after surviving the initial fall. It simply wouldn't have happened, and it absolutely should not have happened in this case either.</font> <br></font><strong>Bob ---, Fredericton</strong> on 11/05/11 04:27:17 PM ADT <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:5ec8ae5e-b7b0-41d9-b57f-f4d7a49ac7e9" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/providence" rel="tag">providence</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Tim+Hortons+coffee" rel="tag">Tim Hortons coffee</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/prayer" rel="tag">prayer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/New+Brunswick" rel="tag">New Brunswick</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/police" rel="tag">police</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/suicide" rel="tag">suicide</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Sgt.+Tim+Durling" rel="tag">Sgt. Tim Durling</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Staff+Sgt.+Kathy+Alchorn" rel="tag">Staff Sgt. Kathy Alchorn</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Heather+McLaughlin" rel="tag">Heather McLaughlin</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/God's+will" rel="tag">God's will</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/divine+intervention" rel="tag">divine intervention</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/sovereignty" rel="tag">sovereignty</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/atheism" rel="tag">atheism</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-18060674805938023712011-05-14T18:04:00.001-04:002011-05-14T18:09:34.403-04:00The children producing the cocoa never taste the chocolate<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/Tc78aivUgOI/AAAAAAAAEWE/9BmUrJzBpGA/s1600-h/Kit%20Kat%5B15%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Kit Kat" border="0" alt="Kit Kat" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/Tc78a2KMgqI/AAAAAAAAEWI/dbq9gnjza6Y/Kit%20Kat_thumb%5B13%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="182"></a>The cruel irony of the chocolate industry made it easy for me to give up chocolate for Lent: The children producing the cocoa beans used to make our chocolate never actually taste the chocolate. The Kit Kat bar that I might rip open, break apart and share with my kids is never enjoyed by the children who made its production possible. It strikes me as terribly unfair. During my chocolate fast, my two sons were asked to sell chocolate bars as a fundraiser for special activities at their school. Here I was helping my boys sell chocolate bars to enhance their experience of school, knowing that these chocolate bars were produced from cocoa harvested by children who will never go to school. It is a horrible injustice. Yet somehow most of us consuming Kit Kats, Mars bars and Snickers have never heard this bitter truth about chocolate. </p> <p>I learned about it by watching the Panorama documentary <em>Chocolate: The Bitter Truth</em> which I have been posting in parts on this blog and by reading Carol Off’s book <em>Bitter Chocolate</em>. In this post, I want to share with you a scene from Carol Off’s important book, accompanied by a video excerpt with a similar scene from the Panorama documentary. At the end of the post, I will include part 3 of 4 of <em>Chocolate: The Bitter Truth </em>which begins to look for answers to this grave problem. My plan is to have another post on chocolate within one week (including the part 4 of the documentary) and then, finally, to suggest what we can do for the children of Africa working so hard to produce the chocolate we enjoy.</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Bitter-Chocolate-Investigating-Worlds-Seductive/dp/0679313206/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305408143&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Bitter Chocolate by Carol Off" border="0" alt="Click here to see Amazon listing for Bitter Chocolate by Carol Off" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/Tc78bDYygwI/AAAAAAAAEWY/100zmWFhdIc/Bitter%20Chocolate%20by%20Carol%20Off%5B14%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="285"></a>The following text is from Carol Off, <em>Bitter Chocolate: Investigating the Dark Side of the World’s Most Seductive Sweet</em> (Random House of Canada, 2006) 5-8.</p> <p>The village is called Sinikosson, which in the official French language of Côte d’Ivoire translates into “<em>Faite pour Demain</em>” and in English means “Made for Tomorrow.” In fact, the villagers seem to make everything for today, living hand to mouth with little remaining for tomorrow. They grow some corn and cassava and cultivate bananas for food, but their primary activity here is to produce cocoa for the international market. As such, they earn just enough money from cocoa sales to pay for rice and cooking oil. There’s usually nothing left over.<br> As remote as the community is, it is also the poorest I have seen in the region. Everyone looks tired and hungry, but at least for the time being the village has escaped the violence in the surrounding countryside. The drunken Ivorian soldiers we met at the last roadblock couldn’t exert themselves to come all the way up here to either conquer or extort.<br> The arrival of a visitor from a faraway country is an extraordinary event in Sinikosson. Within minutes, the covered verandah of the central house in the village is crowded with people—all of them men and boys. The few women and girls who are visible remain a discreet distance away… None of the children here go to school, and there are no services—no electricity, no phones, no clinics or hospitals. The farmers eke out an existence here in the hills, in a land infested by volatile gunmen. Yet they seem satisfied to be here. Even in the midst of all the trouble around them, they say they are better off than they would be in their drought-stricken home country, where people are chronically hungry.<br> I explain to them that I am writing a book about cocoa. They all nod. Cocoa is something about which they have immense knowledge. The quality of beans, the capricious rains, the unpredictable harvests, the cost of pesticides, the threat of witch’s broom (a disease of the <em>Theobroma</em> tree), the see-saw prices and the exorbitant government taxes. These farmers know everything about the difficulties of growing cocoa in this region.<br> “What would you do if you couldn’t grow cocoa anymore?” we ask.<br> “A catastrophe,” one man answers, and they all look grim.<br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/Tc78bvD7SZI/AAAAAAAAEWc/EyiTWkdgpHk/s1600-h/chocolate%20bitter%20truth%20children%5B14%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="chocolate bitter truth children" border="0" alt="chocolate bitter truth children" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/Tc78cK9y3nI/AAAAAAAAEWg/iVHl2xQoe_c/chocolate%20bitter%20truth%20children_thumb%5B12%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="351" height="199"></a> “This is our life,” declares the chief, Mahamad Sawadago. He tells me he is fifty-four, but he looks many years older. Three of the women here are his wives; he has eleven children.<br> “Where does the cocoa go after it leaves here?” Ange asks the villagers. There is a confused silence, and everyone turns to Mahamad.<br> “It goes to the great port of San Pedro,” the chief explains with authority, “and then on to people in Europe and America.” They all nod.<br> “What do those people do with the cocoa beans?”<br> Silence again, and everyone looks to the chief. But this time, he too seems puzzled.<br> “I don’t know,” he answers honestly.<br> He’s certain they make something with it, for sure, but he doesn’t know what.<br> They make chocolate, I explain. Has anyone ever tasted chocolate? One man says he tried it once when he was away from the village and thought it tasted good. No one else even knows what it is.<br>Even Ange Aboa, who reports on the Ivorian cocoa industry, is surprised by how little these people know about the commodity they harvest. Ange tears a sheet of paper from his notebook and rolls it up into an oval tube. He explains that people in the West grind up the cocoa and add lots of sugar to make little bars this size. The bars are quite sweet and delicious. Sometimes milk and even peanuts are added. Children in Europe and America often get such things as treats.</p> <p><iframe height="450" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4iYnH3fQH7c?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="600" allowfullscreen></iframe></p> <p> Ange goes on to explain that one of these bars costs about 500 West African francs (roughly equivalent to a Canadian dollar). Their eyes widen in disbelief. The sum strikes them as staggering for such a small treat—almost enough to buy a good-sized chicken or an entire bag of rice. It represents more than the value of one boy’s work for three days, if they are being paid at all, which I’m sure they are not. I explain that a child in my country will consume such a chocolate bar within minutes. The boys look awed. Days of their effort consumed in a heartbeat on the other side of the world. And yet they don’t begrudge North American children such pleasure. West Africans rarely express envy.<br> As I look at the young faces, the questions in their eyes are the measure of a vast gulf between the children who eat chocolate on their way to school in North American and those who have no school at all, who must, from childhood, work to survive. And I feel the profound irony before me: the children who struggle to produce the small delights of life in the world I come from have never known such pleasure, and most likely, they never will.<br> It’s a measure of the separation in our worlds, a distance now so staggeringly vast. . . the distance between the hand that picks the cocoa and the hand that reaches for the chocolate bar.<br>I tell the boys of Sinikosson who do not know what chocolate is that most people in my country who eat chocolate don’t know where it comes from. The people in my country have no idea who picks the cocoa beans or how those people live. The boys of Sinikosson think it would be a good idea if I told them.</p> <p><iframe height="450" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YYvSMVblrVk?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="600" allowfullscreen></iframe></p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:0e79948c-9b03-4975-bd75-0538e89ac1c0" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/chocolate" rel="tag">chocolate</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kit+Kat" rel="tag">Kit Kat</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/child+slavery" rel="tag">child slavery</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/child+labour" rel="tag">child labour</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ivory+Coast" rel="tag">Ivory Coast</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cocoa" rel="tag">cocoa</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/chocolate+industry" rel="tag">chocolate industry</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/ILO" rel="tag">ILO</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Carol+Off" rel="tag">Carol Off</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Bitter+Chocolate" rel="tag">Bitter Chocolate</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Bitter+Truth" rel="tag">Bitter Truth</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Lent" rel="tag">Lent</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Snickers" rel="tag">Snickers</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Mars+bar" rel="tag">Mars bar</a></div></p> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-53714320142420980772011-05-01T22:46:00.001-04:002011-07-05T16:16:19.502-04:00Royal Wedding: The Scripture Reading and Prayer<p>Kate Middleton’s brother, James Middleton, read the only Scripture reading during the Royal Wedding. Prince William and Kate Middleton chose the royal wedding reading after spending time with the clergy in preparation for the ceremony. And they chose to have it read in modern, gender-inclusive American English, from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. It’s a great reading about being transformed, love being genuine, and, as James Middleton read on Friday, it urges the royal couple to “associate with the lowly.” Reading the Scripture from the American NRSV may have been a bit controversial with Church traditionalists, including The Prince of Wales who is the Patron of the King James Bible Trust and is known to be a passionate advocate for the "poetry and cadence" of the old Authorized Version. Prince Charles supported this year's 400th anniversary celebration of the King James Bible and even recorded <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tjDdz-yRw4" target="_blank">this video reading of John 14 in the KJV</a>. So while it may have been a bit controversial, it was certainly the right decision. When Scripture is read, it should be clear and understandable (See: <a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/2010/11/from-king-james-version-of-bible-to.html" target="_blank">"There's a lot to be said for clarity" by Ken Symes</a>.) This reading at the royal wedding sounded relevant to Prince William and Kate Middleton, and to all of us as well.</p> <h3><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/Tb4bEQ_AIfI/AAAAAAAAESg/0hDJMTTBcn0/s1600-h/RoyalWed_JamesMiddleton%5B13%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="RoyalWed_JamesMiddleton" border="0" alt="James Middleton reading Scripture" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/Tb4bFzPPojI/AAAAAAAAESk/lfEWYp_tQg0/RoyalWed_JamesMiddleton_thumb%5B15%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="351" height="247"></a><font color="#ff0000">Romans 12:1-2, 9-18</font></h3> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters,</strong></font><font color="#ff0000"><strong> by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual</strong></font><font color="#ff0000"><strong> worship. Do not be conformed to this world,</strong></font><font color="#ff0000"><strong> but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.</strong></font></p> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.</strong></font><font color="#ff0000"><strong> Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. </strong></font> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly;</strong></font><font color="#ff0000"><strong> do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. </strong></font> <p>Truly a great passage of Scripture that gives us all a lot to think about, to experience and to live. I don’t recall ever hearing it read at a wedding before, but it was great. I’m presently updating an Internet resource I authored a while ago for couples who are getting married: <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/wedding-verses-top-10-bible-readings-for-wedding" target="_blank">Bible Readings for Weddings</a>. Please feel free to direct anyone you know who is getting married to this link.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/Tb4bGXMm6bI/AAAAAAAAESY/eZHmG15CsTE/s1600-h/image-1-for-royal-wedding-wills-and-kate-tie-the-knot-in-westminster-cathedral-gallery-785155735%5B10%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image-1-for-royal-wedding-wills-and-kate-tie-the-knot-in-westminster-cathedral-gallery-785155735" border="0" alt="image-1-for-royal-wedding-wills-and-kate-tie-the-knot-in-westminster-cathedral-gallery-785155735" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/Tb4bGyy43-I/AAAAAAAAESc/BrU6VcDdQ70/image-1-for-royal-wedding-wills-and-kate-tie-the-knot-in-westminster-cathedral-gallery-785155735_thumb%5B12%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="345" height="248"></a>The Royal Wedding also included a prayer written by Will and Kate. Such a prayer is typically included in the Anglican wedding ceremony, but it was refreshing to hear a couple write something new and fresh in place of the traditional prayer for families.</p> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>God our Father, we thank you for our families; for the love that we share and for the joy of our marriage. In the busyness of each day keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy. Strengthened by our union help us to serve and comfort those who suffer. We ask this in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen.</strong></font></p> <p>All in all, I must say I was impressed by the Royal Wedding. It was uplifting and inspirational. In the midst of all the pomp and circumstance of the event, I just wanted to highlight the great Scripture reading chosen by Prince William and Kate Middleton as well as the great prayer which they wrote together. I hope they will be true to this Scripture and prayer. May God bless them. </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:4de0f5e0-48fe-49e9-90a8-a7274166e2e4" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kate+Middleton" rel="tag">Kate Middleton</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Prince+William" rel="tag">Prince William</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/James+Middleton" rel="tag">James Middleton</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/scripture+reading" rel="tag">scripture reading</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/prayer" rel="tag">prayer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/royal+wedding+reading" rel="tag">royal wedding reading</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/royal+wedding+scripture+reading" rel="tag">royal wedding scripture reading</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/royal+wedding+lesson" rel="tag">royal wedding lesson</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Prince+Charles" rel="tag">Prince Charles</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/King+James+Version" rel="tag">King James Version</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/royal+wedding+NRSV" rel="tag">royal wedding NRSV</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Romans+12" rel="tag">Romans 12</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Will" rel="tag">Will</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kate" rel="tag">Kate</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/prayer+for+families" rel="tag">prayer for families</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Anglican+wedding" rel="tag">Anglican wedding</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/King+James+Bible+Trust" rel="tag">King James Bible Trust</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ken+Symes" rel="tag">Ken Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Bible+Readings+for+Weddings" rel="tag">Bible Readings for Weddings</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/royal+wedding+prayer" rel="tag">royal wedding prayer</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-70693209043996306342011-04-26T12:18:00.001-04:002011-04-26T12:28:24.543-04:00Franklin, you are no Billy Graham<p>Franklin, I knew Billy Graham, I recommitted my life to Christ under the ministry of your father. I was a counsellor at a couple of his crusades. Billy Graham was a spiritual advisor to 12 U.S. Presidents, both Republicans and Democrats—he was non-partisan. He tried not to wade into issues that would distract from his preaching of the gospel. I knew Billy Graham, Franklin, and believe me,  you are no Billy Graham.</p> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/week-transcript-god-government/story?id=13446238&page=1" target="_blank"><img title="Rev. Franklin Graham interviewed by Christiane Amanpour, ABC This Week" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="212" alt="Rev. Franklin Graham interviewed by Christiane Amanpour, ABC This Week" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TbbwWPMmagI/AAAAAAAAEQ0/jewDJWK0SLI/franklin%20graham%20christiane%20amanpour%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="328" align="left" border="0" /></a> On Easter Sunday, you gave an interview to Christian Amanpour. You said three things (or more), just kind of off the cuff, that made me question, What were you thinking? How do we recover from the embarrassment you bring on the church by such bizarre speculations? These comments just don’t strike me as what Jesus had in mind when he advised us to “be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Your father was good at that. He would’ve responded very differently to these questions—not in wild speculation, but focused on the gospel and non-partisan in politics, but always supportive of the president. Franklin, you would do well to consider how Bill Graham would’ve responded to these questions about the second coming, Palin and Trump, and President Obama’s birth and faith.</p> <p><strong>CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, ABC NEWS:</strong> So, what will the second coming look like? </p> <p><strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TbbwWrf4BMI/AAAAAAAAEQ4/P-i84IXK_fk/s1600-h/Jesus%20iPhone%20cross%5B12%5D.jpg"><img title="Jesus iPhone cross" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="293" alt="Jesus iPhone cross" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TbbwXBZ-0SI/AAAAAAAAEQ8/JrFKDenUuSs/Jesus%20iPhone%20cross_thumb%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="289" align="right" border="0" /></a> REV. FRANKLIN GRAHAM, BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION:</strong> Well, the Bible says that every eye is going to see it. And—well, how is that going to happen? There's so many phones today. </p> <p>And just look at what's happening in Libya or Egypt and everybody's got their phone up and everybody's taking recordings and posting it on YouTube and whatever and sending it to you or—and it gets shown around the world. </p> <p>I don't know, but he says that he'll be coming on the clouds and the world is going to moan. They're going to groan. </p> <p>AMANPOUR: I don't mean to be disrespectful— </p> <p>GRAHAM: Yes. </p> <p>AMANPOUR: —but could there be a second coming by social media? Is that what you mean? </p> <p>GRAHAM: No. I'm just saying that how the whole world will see him when he comes, and he's coming back for his people. </p> <p>How is the whole world going to see him all at one time? I don't know, unless all of a sudden, everybody's taking pictures and it's on the media worldwide. I don't know. Social media could have a big part in that. </p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/week-transcript-god-government/story?id=13446238&page=1" target="_blank"><img title="ABC This Week with Christiane Amanpour" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; border-right-width: 0px" height="70" alt="ABC This Week with Christiane Amanpour" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TbbwXaIkAvI/AAAAAAAAEQM/BXMpPcGdVHo/ABC%20This%20Week%20Christiane%20Amanpour%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="170" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>AMANPOUR: Is [Sarah Palin]the kind of candidate you would like to see run for election? Would she be your candidate of choice? </p> <p>GRAHAM: I don't think Sarah's going to — I don't think she likes politics. I think she likes speaking on the issues, and I agree with many of the issues that she brings up, but I believe — I don't see her as running for president. </p> <p>AMANPOUR: If she did, would you support her? Would she be your candidate? </p> <p>GRAHAM: It depends on who the other candidates are.<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/10/sarah-palin-donald-trump_n_847220.html" target="_blank"><img title="Sarah Palin appreciates Donald Trump investiating President Obama's birth" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="199" alt="Sarah Palin appreciates Donald Trump investiating President Obama's birth" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TbbwXl8vjxI/AAAAAAAAEQo/11eI2u7_fz4/SARAH-PALIN-DONALD-TRUMP%5B12%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="271" align="right" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>AMANPOUR: So, that's not a yes. </p> <p>GRAHAM: No. I mean, we're so early. But I do like Sarah. </p> <p>AMANPOUR: Well, there are people in right now. Would you support Mitt Romney, would you support—</p> <p>GRAHAM: I've met—</p> <p>AMANPOUR: —Donald Trump? </p> <p>GRAHAM: I've met Mitt Romney. No question he is a — he's a very capable person, he's proven himself. Donald Trump, when I first saw that he was getting in, I thought, well, this has got to be a joke. But the more you listen to him, the more you say to yourself, you know? Maybe the guy's right. So, there's a — </p> <p>AMANPOUR: So, he might be your candidate of choice? </p> <p>GRAHAM: Sure, yes, sure. </p> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/week-transcript-god-government/story?id=13446238&page=1" target="_blank"><img title="ABC This Week with Christiane Amanpour" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; border-right-width: 0px" height="70" alt="ABC This Week with Christiane Amanpour" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TbbwXaIkAvI/AAAAAAAAEQM/BXMpPcGdVHo/ABC%20This%20Week%20Christiane%20Amanpour%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="170" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>AMANPOUR: President Obama has come to you and your father, you've all prayed together. How would you say he's doing? </p> <p>GRAHAM: I think he's a very nice man. I think he's a very gracious person. But I think our country is in big trouble. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TbbwYI_OExI/AAAAAAAAERA/dpcK_9oWQCE/s1600-h/President%20Obama%20Billy%20Graham%20Franklin%20Graham%5B11%5D.jpg"><img title="President Barack Obama meeting with Billy Graham and Franklin Graham" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="248" alt="President Barack Obama meeting with Billy Graham and Franklin Graham" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TbbwYlpSWpI/AAAAAAAAERE/Dey-t7Y6fKc/President%20Obama%20Billy%20Graham%20Franklin%20Graham_thumb%5B9%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="353" align="right" border="0" /></a>AMANPOUR: Does it bother you that people like Donald Trump for instance right now, are making another huge big deal about birth certificates and whether he's a Muslim or a Christian and where he was born? </p> <p>GRAHAM: Well, the president, I know, has some issues to deal with here. He can solve this whole birth certificate issue pretty quickly. I don't — I was born in a hospital in Ashville, North Carolina, and I know that my records are there. You can probably even go and find out what room my mother was in when I was born. </p> <p>I don't know why he can't produce that. So, I'm not — I don't know, but it's an issue that looks like he could answer pretty quickly. </p> <p>As it relates to Muslim, there are many people that do wonder where he really stands on that. Now, he has told me that he is a Christian. But the debate comes, what is a Christian? </p> <p>For him, going to church means he's a Christian. For me, the definition of a Christian is whether we have given our life to Christ and are following him in faith, and we have trusted him as our Lord and Savior. </p> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/week-transcript-god-government/story?id=13446238&page=1" target="_blank"><img title="ABC This Week with Christiane Amanpour" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; border-right-width: 0px" height="70" alt="ABC This Week with Christiane Amanpour" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TbbwXaIkAvI/AAAAAAAAEQM/BXMpPcGdVHo/ABC%20This%20Week%20Christiane%20Amanpour%5B10%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="170" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>I’ve told you what I think, but what do you think? Did Franklin Graham do a good job of presenting a Christian response to these questions? How would Billy Graham have answered differently? Post your opinion in the Comments below. To be fair to Franklin, I’ve posted a video of the full interview below. The full transcript is also available by clicking on an ABC logo above.</p> <p><img style="visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px" height="0" src="http://c.gigcount.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEzMDM4MzQ1MzAyOTYmcHQ9MTMwMzgzNDUzNDUxNSZwPTEyNTg*MTEmZD1BQkNOZXdzX1NGUF9Mb2NrZV9FbWJlZCZn/PTImbz*wZmJkN2Q3YzIwNzY*OTllYmY2YmE3ODI2NWIxM2I2OSZvZj*w.gif" width="0" border="0" /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,124,0" width="344" height="278" id="ABCESNWID"><param name="movie" value="http://abcnews.go.com/assets/player/walt2.6/flash/SFP_Walt_2_65.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="all" /><param name="flashvars" value="configUrl=http://abcnews.go.com/video/sfp/embedPlayerConfig&configId=406732&clipId=13446239&gig_lt=1303834530296&gig_pt=1303834534515&gig_g=2" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed src="http://abcnews.go.com/assets/player/walt2.6/flash/SFP_Walt_2_65.swf" quality="high" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all" allowfullscreen="true" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="344" height="278" flashvars="configUrl=http://abcnews.go.com/video/sfp/embedPlayerConfig&configId=406732&clipId=13446239&gig_lt=1303834530296&gig_pt=1303834534515&gig_g=2" name="ABCESNWID"></embed></object></p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:7fb4c945-30bb-40eb-9a5b-acd864a1b3d2" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Franklin+Graham" rel="tag">Franklin Graham</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Donald+Trump" rel="tag">Donald Trump</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Sarah+Palin" rel="tag">Sarah Palin</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Billy+Graham" rel="tag">Billy Graham</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/President+Obama" rel="tag">President Obama</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Christian" rel="tag">Christian</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Christiane+Amanpour" rel="tag">Christiane Amanpour</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/ABC+This+Week" rel="tag">ABC This Week</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Barack+Obama" rel="tag">Barack Obama</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Trump+Palin" rel="tag">Trump Palin</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Mitt+Romney" rel="tag">Mitt Romney</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birther" rel="tag">birther</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/tea+party" rel="tag">tea party</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Republican" rel="tag">Republican</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Muslim" rel="tag">Muslim</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Rev.+Franklin+Graham" rel="tag">Rev. Franklin Graham</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/evangelist" rel="tag">evangelist</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/birth+certificate" rel="tag">birth certificate</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-21349712996791142832011-04-16T23:40:00.001-04:002011-04-16T23:44:20.645-04:00Helena Guergis deserves better, Mr. Harper<p>Suppose the Toronto Star realized that their company’s management was mostly male and began an effort to move more qualified women into leadership. Let’s say a good reporter was moved into position as a department editor and that she was doing well and was asked to serve on the task force charged with mentoring and promoting women within the company. Now, if she were suddenly dismissed from her editorial position and demoted back to being a reporter, don’t you think the company would need to give the reason? Wouldn’t the optics require it? And what if later she was sent to work for a smaller newspaper in the chain—wouldn’t that look terribly unfair? Wouldn’t someone need to give a reason for these decisions? So if the Prime Minister of Canada dismisses the Minister for the Status of Women and then ejects her from caucus, shouldn’t he have to give a reason? And shouldn’t that reason be something more substantive than rumours and criminal allegations completely dismissed by the RCMP? Now that his report of “serious allegations” have tarnished Helena Guergis’s reputation and caused her significant grief, stress (during per pregnancy) and unwanted publicity, shouldn’t Stephen Harper do something to make this right?</p> <p>You can <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PJSiPpzNqo" target="_blank">click here to see an excellent summary</a> of the Helena Guergis story, but I’d like you to view this interview of Helena Guergis herself. Watch closely when the counter gets to 4:47 and the reporter begins asking Guergis about the cross she’s wearing. Do you think that was fair? <br /><font color="#808080" size="2">[I want to thank J MacShimmie who posted this video and then asked if I would write an op-ed. I don’t usually do politics, but there is a real intersection of faith and culture happening here.]</font></p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/a8h3qSc2jqc?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="600" height="480" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>Helena Guergis is looking for redemption and that seems fair given that she has done nothing wrong. No evidence has ever been presented to the RCMP or to the public to substantiate what the prime minister has said or the rumours that his office leaked to the press about her. The reality is that Stephen Harper has seriously damaged the reputation of this woman for a motive which is still unclear. If he was CEO of the Toronto Star, if this was corporate Canada, I doubt that he would get away with this demotion and public humiliation of a high ranking member of the executive team. To my mind, this action is clearly sexist. Guergis was Minister for the Status of Women—if you’re going to demote and then remove her from caucus, you ought to have a substantial reason that can be announced, something other than baseless character assassination.</p> <p>This was quite a good interview, but then suddenly CBC reporter Carole MacNeil decides to question Helena Guergis about the cross she’s wearing (4:47). What do you think about this questioning? Do you think it was fair? Relevant?</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>CBC Anchor Carole MacNeil: </strong>Ms. Guergis I notice when we see you, uh, recently, that you’ve been wearing <em>this cross</em> around your neck more prominently than you had in the past, what’s the significance of that?</p> <p><strong><strong><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TaphKS2l36I/AAAAAAAAEOg/rprSAtQMX98/s1600-h/cbcnn_hgi.mp4_000292059%5B19%5D.jpg"><img title="cbcnn_hgi.mp4_000292059" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="230" alt="cbcnn_hgi.mp4_000292059" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TaphKjZsQ2I/AAAAAAAAEOk/JdPYS_4hVQs/cbcnn_hgi.mp4_000292059_thumb%5B27%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="318" align="right" border="0" /></a></strong>Helena Guergis: </strong>Actually Carol, that’s not true at all. This is a cross that I was given by my grandfather who is a Reverend, and I’ve been wearing it around my neck since I was 14 years old.</p> <p><strong>MacNeil: </strong>OK. No it’s just I say we’re noticing it more now than we ever had in the past –  I’m not suggesting that you put it on for any other reason,  but I was just curious what it means to you.</p> <p><strong>Guergis: </strong>Well, you have to look to your faith, when you go through a difficult situation, and you know God only gives you what you can handle.</p> <p><strong>MacNeil: </strong><em>(Long pause.)</em> Alright. <em>(Pause)</em> And are you handling this? Do you think you can handle this?</p> <p><strong>Guergis: </strong>Yeah… Yeah, I think I am. Yeah. It’s difficult, but we’ll get through it…</p> </blockquote> <p>Personally, I do wonder why MacNeil went after the cross even after it had been asked and answered. I think Helena Guergis gave a pretty solid Christian answer. Difficult life situations often do deepen our faith and cause us to turn to God with a growing trust. It is that hope that somehow God will redeem even the most difficult circumstances that gets us through. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Back in June 2010, Guergis told Jane Taber (<a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/empowered-by-faith-family-constituents-and-ex-colleagues-guergis-very-confident-her-name-will-be-cleared/article1601717/" target="_blank">Globe and Mail</a>) she believes that what is happening to her is for a “greater purpose.” “I keep telling myself that,” she said. “I don’t know what it is at this point, but I do continue to go back to my faith… It’s a challenge and every day I turn around and say, ‘What is it going to be tomorrow?’”</p> <p>Since MacNeil can go after Helena Guergis’s faith, how about we have some other reporter go after Stephen Harper’s faith—he claims to be a Christian, doesn’t he? Does Christianity have anything to say about gossip,<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TaphLDLLXbI/AAAAAAAAEOo/AXC4loazurM/s1600-h/Stephen%20Harper%20sweater%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Stephen Harper sweater" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="248" alt="Stephen Harper sweater" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JbfKdSBkoWQ/TaphLZw-BUI/AAAAAAAAEOs/Ah6AVvsWZJQ/Stephen%20Harper%20sweater_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="197" align="right" border="0" /></a> spreading lies and treating someone so poorly? As Bishop Fred Henry said so famously to Jean Chretien, “When you’re prime minister, you can’t take off your faith at the door like it was a sweater” [paraphrased from memory]. I suspect Jesus was talking to politicians too when he said, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you” (Matthew 7:12). Guergis said Harper would not meet with her, would not disclose the allegations and did not give her a chance to defend herself. Now that she has been cleared by the RCMP and Freedom of Information requests have shown that the prime minister had no evidence to support the criminal allegations he raised against her, isn’t it time for Mr. Harper to do the right thing? His handlers may have decided against it, but isn’t it time for Stephen Harper to put his sweater back on?</p> <p>Perhaps, I should have finished with that previous line, but here’s the deal with scandals. The news focuses our attention so much on so few details about the person that we lose sight of the bigger picture of who this person is, what else they’ve done and whatever we used to think about them. While researching for this post, I stumbled across this great video of Ricker Mercer’s “interview” with Helena Guergis in her riding, Simcoe-Grey. I think you’ll find it quite entertaining, especially if you watch through to the last couple minutes. Personally, I think this time spent with Rick Mercer gives us a truer, more fair picture of who Helena Guergis really is than Harper’s baseless accusations and all the headlines spun from that a year ago. I, for one, vote for redeeming Ms. Guergis and lifting the cloud of suspicion—seems like a good Christian response. <br />    <font face="Arial Black" size="6"><strong><em>x</em></strong></font>   <strong><font size="4">Ken Symes</font></strong></p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DkufoaY-qKE?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="600" height="480" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:a6e0b159-b6ad-4daf-b6b5-9cbbe6546a43" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Helena+Guergis" rel="tag">Helena Guergis</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Stephen+Harper" rel="tag">Stephen Harper</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/prime+minister" rel="tag">prime minister</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Simcoe-Grey" rel="tag">Simcoe-Grey</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Rick+Mercer" rel="tag">Rick Mercer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Carole+MacNeil" rel="tag">Carole MacNeil</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/CBC" rel="tag">CBC</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Minister+for+the+Status+of+Women" rel="tag">Minister for the Status of Women</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/sweater" rel="tag">sweater</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Bishop+Fred+Henry" rel="tag">Bishop Fred Henry</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Conservative+Party" rel="tag">Conservative Party</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Independent+Conservative" rel="tag">Independent Conservative</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/PM+Harper" rel="tag">PM Harper</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Guergis" rel="tag">Guergis</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Rahim+Jaffer" rel="tag">Rahim Jaffer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Prime+Minister+Harper" rel="tag">Prime Minister Harper</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ken+Symes" rel="tag">Ken Symes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Christian" rel="tag">Christian</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/faith" rel="tag">faith</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Jesus" rel="tag">Jesus</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Harper+sweater" rel="tag">Harper sweater</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5396279953555655134.post-77462371350993108442011-04-07T16:47:00.001-04:002011-04-07T16:47:49.797-04:00Ivory Coast crisis: What they’re not reporting<p>For three months now, newly-elected Côte d'Ivoire President Ouattara has been struggling to take control of the country away from the desperate dictator-like ex-president Gbagbo who is defiantly ignoring election results, consolidating power and attempting to stay in control. Only now that President Ouattara has almost succeeding in ousting Gbagbo are we beginning to see any substantial coverage in the news. The United Nations confirmed the election results and they have 10,000 troops on the ground to try to minimize the toll of the conflict. The French also sent in soldiers. The European Union, the United States and much of the international community has accepted Ouattara and not Gbagbo as president. The fighting has been intense, but slowly most of the Côte d'Ivoire army has switched sides to supporting Ouattara. ALL THIS and only now is the situation getting some news coverage! I’m concerned that they are not reporting the full story. Côte d'Ivoire is the world’s #1 producer of cocoa—without Côte d'Ivoire’s cocoa we would not be able to enjoy chocolate as we do. What’s not being reported is the huge role that cocoa is playing in this civil war-like crisis. Take for example the first serious coverage I saw on CBC News on April 5, or this video from ABC News (turns out it’s Australia, not America!).</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TjBFKZVak-8?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="600" height="368" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>No mention of cocoa even though President Ouattara called for a cocoa embargo in order to deprive Gbagbo of the funds he needs to pay the military who are keeping him in power. You see, taxes on cocoa farmers, export taxes (from north to south) and corruption in government obtaining most of the profits from cocoa sales is how military conflict has been financed in Côte d'Ivoire for over a decade now. The EU and US have heed the call not purchase cocoa, a ban came into force in January 2011. Only last week did I hear any mention in mainstream news about this chocolate embargo and that was because Hershey’s announced their wholesale prices would be going up by 10%. It’s mostly just in the financial news that I have found any mention of this embargo, but even then they’re not reporting the whole story!</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/il2G4kEcxoU?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="600" height="368" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>What no one is reporting is how the government has impoverished the cocoa farmers who do not make a fair wage for their labour. The horrendous result has been the widespread use of cocoa farmers’ children to work on the family farms. When they could not get by even then, cocoa farmers began to buy children and traffic child slaves from Burkino Faso and other desperately poor areas. 200,000 children work in the cocoa jungles of Côte d'Ivoire and about 15,000 of them are trafficked slaves. Children are used “to clear land for the planting of cocoa trees, and for weeding and harvesting crops. The boys and girls, many as young as seven, are unpaid or paid very little,” according to Asad Ismi writing for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Monitor (Feb 2011). Citing a Channel Four documentary from England, Ismi says, “90% of the cocoa farms in Ivory Coast use child slave labourers, whose hellish working conditions include 20-hour work days, malnutrition, torture, sexual abuse, and exposure to toxic chemicals.” You don’t see this reported very much in the news, but it’s all been well-documented for at least a decade now, if not longer. [Here on this blog, see my first chocolate post <a href="http://samaritanxp.blogspot.com/2011/03/giving-up-chocolate-for-lent.html" target="_blank">"Giving up chocolate for Lent, maybe for life" by Ken Symes</a>.]</p> <p>As a Christian practising Lent, this year I gave up chocolate so that I could think and pray about this bitter truth about chocolate: children are being trafficked and enslaved to produce the cocoa needed to make the chocolate I love. So two days ago, when I saw that the <a href="http://www.nae.net/news/546-press-release-evangelicals-pray-for-ivory-coast" target="_blank">National Association of Evangelicals published a press release calling for prayer for Ivory Coast</a>, naturally I expected that they would include prayer for the 200,000 children labouring in the cocoa jungles.</p> <blockquote> <p>“Evangelical missionaries have worked in Ivory Coast since the 1920s, planting churches and supporting schools, hospitals and other social ministries,” said NAE President Leith Anderson. “Our hearts go out to the people of Ivory Coast who desperately want peace, and especially to those who have lost loved ones in the recent fighting.” … <br />“Scripture calls us to pray for our leaders and all who are in authority,” Anderson said. “I am praying that President Gbagbo will step down gracefully for the good of his country and for the peace of the entire region of West Africa.” <br />The NAE also encourages its members to support humanitarian relief efforts to care for displaced refugees in the region.</p> </blockquote> <p>These are good thoughts for prayer, but since we know that our Lord Jesus loves the little children of Côte d'Ivoire (Ghana, Burkino Faso and all of West Africa) and since we know that the Lord calls us to minister to the least of these, we must add to this prayer for Côte d'Ivoire. Please pray for changes in the chocolate companies and in the Côte d'Ivoire government so that they will do what is needed to end child slavery now and eliminate the worst forms of child labour now. Pray that people will come to know the bitter truth about chocolate and call on our governments stand up to the cocoa industry and legislate them to end the use of slavery and child labour. It’s not fair that children’s lives are being ruined in the Ivory Coast cocoa jungles so that our children can enjoy Kit Kats, Snickers and Smarties. [The following video is a snipit from <em>Chocolate: The Bitter Truth.</em>]</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4iYnH3fQH7c?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="600" height="480" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:6d30b7f1-952f-489f-bfe3-dff751af86a7" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ivory+Coast" rel="tag">Ivory Coast</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cocoa+industry" rel="tag">cocoa industry</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cocoa" rel="tag">cocoa</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/child+labour" rel="tag">child labour</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/slavery" rel="tag">slavery</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/C%c3%b4te+d'Ivoire" rel="tag">Côte d'Ivoire</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Ouattara" rel="tag">Ouattara</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Gbagbo" rel="tag">Gbagbo</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/chocolate" rel="tag">chocolate</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kit+Kat" rel="tag">Kit Kat</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Snickers" rel="tag">Snickers</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Smarties" rel="tag">Smarties</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/United+Nations" rel="tag">United Nations</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/European+Union" rel="tag">European Union</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/France" rel="tag">France</a></div> Ken Symeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11459635303438115559noreply@blogger.com1