Happy Birthday Social Trends!

The annual survey of life in Britain is forty years old this week. The latest volume, weighing in at 243 pages, gives a refreshingly cool and trustworthy picture of how the nation has changed over the last 40 years.

Life expectancy is up. Girls born in 2008 can expect to live seven years longer than those born in 1970, and boys nine years longer. We smoke less (surely not a disconnected fact). We are better educated. We are much richer. Real household disposable income per head is 2½ times more today than it was in 1970. And we holiday abroad much more often, making on average 45 million holiday trips today compared with 6.7 million in 1971.All this makes it seem like things have only got better. But there are other, complicating factors.

We may be richer as a society but we are more unequal. The accepted measure of economic inequality, the Gini co-efficient (calculated between 0 and 100, with 0 representing complete equality and 100 representing complete inequality) increased from 26 in 1977 to 34 in 2008. Even if the poor aren’t actually poorer (at least in absolute terms) they certainly feel poorer. 
-We may have more money but we save far less of it. Households saved around seven per cent of their total annual resources in 1970. In 2008, it was under two per cent.

Financial crisis and economic downturn have forced it up a bit since then but we are still a long way from financial security.
-There may be more of us – the population has risen from 56 million in 1971 to 61 million today – but we are choosing to have far fewer children.
-Most tellingly, we may live longer lives, but they are increasingly more fluid and isolated. The number of first marriages has fallen precipitously, whereas the number of single person households, divorces, and children born outside marriage has risen steadily. And while we may congratulate ourselves that the number of teenagers getting pregnant has fallen from 134,000 in 1970 to 106,000 in 2007, the number who gave birth has fallen far more steeply, from 117,000 in 1970 to 63,000. No prizes for guessing what happened to the difference.-

How can we explain this see-saw of statistics, some showing life going up, some seemingly showing it coming down?

Perhaps like this. Life is better for me, but not for us. I can expect to live longer, earn more and travel further. But we are less likely to live together, stay together or maintain economic equality. Or maybe we can put it another way. We are forgetting what life is for. My comfort and my leisure are on the up. But my willingness to sacrifice what I have – for other people, for children, for the future, for the common good – is declining.-

“Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” Jesus’ words carve through distorted notions of life. The more we hoard, the more we will lose. The more we celebrate and exercise ‘freedom’ and ‘choice’, the more we erode the bonds of trust, fidelity, patience, perseverance, love that make us human, that make life truly worthwhile.-


But the more we give away – whether to family, friends, neighbours, or God – the more we will have.

Nick Spencer is Director of Studies at Theos

What does your faith journey look like?Perhaps you had a sudden Damascus Road experience – or came to faith slowly. Whoever you are, whatever has happened, however your views have changed over the years, your faith journey is unique. The Evangelical Alliance is pleased to support an exciting Christian Research initiative that is seeking to compile the first comprehensive collection of faith journeys.  

This remarkable project, called ‘Faith Journeys’, aims to provide a richer understanding of how people come to, and grow in, faith, so that churches and organisations can better support people on their journeys.  

To find out more, and to tell your story, visit www.faith-journeys.com

This is my release

In our prayers, let us consider those who are thinking of taking their own lives and ending it all. Let us pray for them that the light of Christ may shine through and his love and peace may flow through them. Below I tried to get into the mindset of a person who is thinking of ending it all in a poetic/rap format.

Filled with accolade from the crowd

The time is nearer for Jesus to come get me

I’m empty feeling heated like a flask

I’ve reached boiling point about to burst out

Had enough of life I could understand them chicks that took their lives

Nothing more in life for me depression is seen

Evidence on my left wrist

This is my dark release a cry of help

I’m getting bloody soon be bagged up

Resting in peace, let my life be simply forgotten

They say I’m selfish cuz the grief my mama will be feeling

Understand my isolation from the beginning

Nobody loved me that’s for sure

To many nights in pain with my heart throbbing

Demons in my head telling lies of conspicuous woes

This is my release

This is my release

This is what ill be

Free to be

No more painful memories

You probably heared of me

The other night a boy

Got drugged up

With a note by his bed

What a tragic end

Understand I did it for my happiness

Smiling as I go in peace

See the brighter light

The night is gone

The day is coming

And here it is I’ve been freed

From the misery of miserly

Kissing the grave like it was made for me

This is my release

This is my release

Death by the corner why our souls so bad

I’m lost in the tears of my mothers sadness

Please God tell me you living

Cuz im hopeless and helpless

Selfless and ready to be

A part of the source I begin

To catching cases going to war with the devil

In my sleep

To much pressure on my shoulders

Couldn’t carry the wait so the condemnation came

Bitterly sweet they treated me bad

Left me all alone so I’m feeling crap

Understand I tried to come back

Then my heart got this feeling towards her

Couldn’t control it and she threw me back

Please go away

Cuz ill be free now

This is my release 

K.Oni

Sad eyes

You have sad eyes
Come sit and tell me your troubles
A heart that is broken needs to be healed
I could have a remedy
But you must tell me your sickness
Tell me the pain
I have an extra unbrella for your rain
A branch alone is a branch forgotten
Come sit and tell me your troubles
Maybe my words may comfort you
I may be the remedy you need
Your eyes are too preety to be sad
Your Spirit is far to beautiful
                                                                               Do you not see that the leaves wither
                                                                              At the lack of your countenace
                                                                              Come, don't let me be a stranger anymore
                                                                  Don't let me be like a friend who keeps knocking in the rain
                                                                                  For you have sad eyes

K.Oni

Why Memorize Scripture?

First, a few testimonies: I have it third hand, that Dr. Howard Hendricks (of Dallas Seminary) once made the statement (and I paraphrase) that if it were his decision, every student graduating from Dallas Theological Seminary would be required to learn one thousand verses word perfect before they graduated.

Dallas Willard, professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California, wrote, "Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our minds with what it needs. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. That's where you need it! How does it get in your mouth? Memorization" ("Spiritual Formation in Christ for the Whole Life and Whole Person" in Vocatio, Vol. 12, no. 2, Spring, 2001, p. 7).

Chuck Swindoll wrote, "I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture... No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified" (Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life[Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994], p. 61).

One of the reasons Martin Luther came to his great discovery in the Bible of justification by faith alone was that in his early years in the Augustinian monastery he was influenced to love Scripture by Johann Staupitz. Luther devoured the Bible in a day when people earned doctorates in theology without even reading the Bible. Luther said that his fellow professor, Andreas Karlstadt, did not even own a Bible when he earned his doctor of theology degree, nor did he until many years later (www.orlutheran.com/html/luthbibl.html). Luther knew so much of the Bible from memory that when the Lord opened his eyes to see the truth of justification in Romans 1:17, he said, "Thereupon I ran through the Scriptures from memory," in order to confirm what he had found.

So here are a few reasons why so many have viewed Scripture memorization as so essential to the Christian life.

1. Conformity to Christ

Paul wrote that "we all... beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another." If we would be changed into Christ likeness we must steadily see him. This happens in the word. "The LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD" (1 Samuel 3:21). Bible memorization has the effect of making our gaze on Jesus to be steadier and clearer.

2. Daily Triumph over Sin

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word... I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:9, 11). Paul said that we must "by the Spirit... put to death the [sinful] deeds of the body" (Romans 8:13). The one piece of armor used to kill is the "sword of the Spirit," which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). As sin lures the body into sinful action, we call to mind a Christ-revealing word of Scripture and slay the temptation with the superior worth and beauty of Christ over what sin offers.

3. Daily Triumph over Satan

When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness he recited Scripture from memory and put Satan to flight (Matthew 4:1-11).

4. Comfort and Counsel for People You Love

The times when people need you to give them comfort and counsel do not always coincide with the times you have your Bible handy. Not only that, the very word of God spoken spontaneously from your heart has unusual power. Proverbs 25:11 says, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver." That is a beautiful way of saying, When the heart full of God's love can draw on the mind full of God's word, timely blessings flow from the mouth.

5. Communicating the Gospel to Unbelievers

Opportunities to share the gospel come when we do not have the Bible in hand. Actual verses of the Bible have their own penetrating power. And when they come from our heart, as well as from the Book, the witness is given that they are precious enough to learn. We should all be able to sum up the gospel under four main headings (1) God's holiness/law/glory; 2) man's sin/rebellion/disobedience; 3) Christ's death for sinners; 4) the free gift of life by faith. Learn a verse or two relating to each of these, and be ready in season and out of season to share them.

6. Communion with God in the Enjoyment of His Person and Ways

The way we commune with (that is, fellowship with) God is by meditating on his attributes and expressing to him our thanks and admiration and love, and seeking his help in living a life that reflects the value of these attributes. Therefore, storing texts in our minds about God helps us relate to him as he really is. For example, imagine being able to call this to mind through the day:

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:8-14)

I used the word "enjoyment" intentionally when I said, "communion with God in the enjoyment of his person and ways." Most of us are emotionally crippled — all of us really. We do not experience God in the fullness of our emotional potential. How will that change? One way is to memorize the emotional expressions of the Bible and speak them to the Lord and to each other until they become part of who we are. For example, in Psalm 103:1, we say, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!" That is not a natural expression for many people. But if we memorize this and other emotional expressions from the Bible, and say them often, asking the Lord to make the emotion real in our hearts, we can actually grow into that emotion and expression. It will become part of who we are. We will be less crippled emotionally and more able to render proper praise and thanks to God.

There are other reasons for memorizing Scripture. I hope you find them in the actual practice.

Still learning with you,

Pastor John

By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: www.desiringGod.org.

Blame and Punishment

Ken Clarke announced this week that the Government would take a long hard look at the country’s prison system, and become less reliant on short sentences to deal with minor crimes.  The right of his party thought that this announcement must be coming from one of their new Lib Dem allies, but no - it was indeed from the man who had thrice challenged for the leadership of the party.  He declared that ‘banging up more and more people without actively seeking to change them is what you would expect of Victorian England’.  And he blamed the Government for doubling the prison population without any thought as to whether this reduced reoffending, or made the public seem more secure.

Crime comes with consequences, and there is something that makes us want to hit back when we feel aggrieved.  We want to blame someone, just as Ken Clarke blamed the Labour Government and just like Monty Python blamed society (as Clarke’s predecessor quoted in reaction to this announcement). 

When something goes wrong, we want someone to carry the can. We want to see them suffer for their sins.  We want to know that they will not do it again.  We want them to be better people because of the consequences of what they have done.  But in order to punish, deter and cure, we need someone to blame. 

Our casting of blame often goes to the easiest candidate, the person put in front of us, whether in the dock standing trial for crime, or the face in a Crimewatch reconstruction.  This is nothing new: Habakkuk complained to God that ‘the law is paralyzed and justice never goes forth’ (see Habakkuk 1. 2-4).

Just look at the response to England crashing out of the World Cup.The players were blamed, Fabio Capello was blamed, the referee was blamed – 4-4-2, the shirts and even multiculturalism all took their place in the dock and were called to account for the early flight home.  We want a scapegoat. We want to feel that if things had taken their natural course everything would be okay, that if the players had lived up to their billing and played the way they do in the premiership, we would be ready to lose to Argentina in the quarter-finals. 

Often blame is born out of anger, and anger out of rage, and rage out of suffering, out of knowing something is wrong, from feeling the pain and wanting revenge.  That cannot be the way we dispense justice. It cannot be the way to right wrongs. After Moses had killed the Egyptian who had been beating one of the Hebrew slaves (Exodus 2) he lost all authority to rebuke others for their use of violence. Time and again, we see that anger-fuelled revenge leads to a perpetual spiral of violence that leaves everyone blind. 

I’m reminded of that moment in the West Wing when Santos is running for President, addressing a church after a young boy had been shot. 'I blame everyone I can think of and I am filled with rage',he confessed, but then accepted that 'blame will breed more violence and we have had enough of that'. 

But there should be a response to injustice, when things are not the way they ought to be.  When we are filled with blame but want to avoid revenge, we can still pursue justice.  We can look for a response that punishes and protects, but also rehabilitates and looks to a future where the world may be better.  The blame from the football fans is not a quest for revenge but for a team which will perform better next time round. 

When Peter stepped up to protect Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane , he was told to put away his sword (John 18.1-11). This was not a moment for revenge; instead, the decision to allow the mob to deliver Jesus to death set in motion the ultimate act of justice for our sins – even though Jesus was not to blame.  

When we want to blame, when we want to hold someone responsible for something that has gone wrong, we should be motivated by justice and not a desire for revenge. 

Danny Webster, Parliamentary Officer 

I see the stars

Tonight, I see the stars but my heart breaks,
I saw her wane away and its aching me,
The grief surges in my blood stream
And my weeping fills the earth,
The misery of tomorrow awaits me
And the years protracted like it will never cease
Oh I yearn I could dwindle like a flower
And flux like the ice
Tonight, I see the stars and my heart breaks

K.Oni

Following Jesus

If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

K.Oni