Tsvangirai speaks to the BBC

I have spent the day fasting and praying for Zimbabwe. It has been a good day and I have reflected not just on what I can do but what I believe God can do in this desperate situation.

Mugabe himself said that "Only God would remove him ." What that looks like, I have no idea. It seems that a UN peacekeeping force is problematical, sanctions will effect the citizens of Zimbabwe but words from African leaders will only get us so far.

I believe that God can work in and through all things and my deep prayer is that He will work in this situation and i will continue to pray in that hope. Practically, I am writing a letter to my local MP to express my discomfort and sorrow for the people of Zimbabwe. Will it make a difference? Will I feel better? It is only a small response but I must do something!

Matt



Tsvangirai speaks to the BBC about his decision to pull out of the elections in Zimbabwe.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7480974.stm

Germny or Spain

Well, Holland were knocked out of Euro 2008 by Russia in the quarter finals. So my interests is feel strained in the final tonight. I don't really care who wins. But any football fan will appreciate that you have to support one team or the other.

So I am going for.....Spain. Not because of the usual "we don't like the Germans" line (that is rather outdated and rude) but because Spain have been the only team that have attacked the opposition in all their games. Italy should be given some kind of ban for the way they played against Spain in the Quarter finals. They were negative beyond belief.

As the saying goes, "Football has been the real winner!", it has been a great tournament with the huge disappointment of England getting knocked out when they should have won. Anyway, only two more years when English fans can take a month out of reality, get depressed and buy pointless items of memorabilia. Bring on South Africa 2010.

Matt

What can I do!

Voting in Zimbabwe is underway. There is a choice if an oppressive, dictatorial and murderous leader or an oppressive, dictatorial and murderous leader. Not much of a choice.

President Mugabe is running with this election to legitimise his power and rule to both the citizens of the country and the rest of the world. But everyone knows he does not have the support of his people. He makes them vote with fear for the lives and families lives.

But what can I do? what can we do? In a state of helplessness, I am going fast every Monday for a month to pray for Zimbabwe and its people and government. Its not much but what else can I do. Boycotting products and companies is problematical because of innocent peoples lives being effected by those actions. I can't vote him out! I don't have the influence to make others put pressure on him so pray is my first and last resort.

Join me in prayer that hope and freedom are allowed to rule in Zimbabwe.

Matt

Equality and Diversity

As a white middle class man, my experience of being marginalised is very small indeed. The only significant experience happened in 2004 when Lizzy and I went to India for a Youth Conference. We stayed in the middle of deepest darkest Calcutta and went out for the afternoon on our own. It was obvious that we were the only white people as we were stared at constantly. It was very unnerving and uncomfortable.

Jim Wallis says that "We respect one another because God made us equal, views us as equal, and treats us a equal - and expects us to treat one another the same way" (Wallis, 2008:148)

As I read the chapter on equality and diversity, I realised how unaware I have been about how my actions, words or silence effect others. If I am to live out an inclusive gospel, I can't and must not just value and focus on my feelings or presumptions but the the feelings and opinions of others. In India, I noticed how I must react at home when I come in to contact with those who are not like me, whether Class, gender, race or ability. Am I welcoming, responsive and engaged or do I only subscribe to thoughts, opinions and actions of those I like or who like me?

God's world is just, I hope mine matches up more in the future.

Matt

Third Way interview with Khalid Mish'al

A really useful interview with a senior Muslim Political figure. Here is a small extract from the full interview from Third Way magazine:

Khalid Mish'al is widely regarded as the most senior figure in Hamas, the Islamist resistance movement that two years ago won a landslide victory in the Palestinian general election.

Many Christians in the West are afraid of Islam. Can you tell me honestly what you think of Christianity?
My answer is not a diplomatic answer: it comes from my heart and from my mind. Many people in the West do an injustice to Islam and make false accusations against it, because they misunderstand it or because they see some Muslims behaving badly and they generalise, or because they want to justify aggression, as George [W.] Bush did.
Look today, who is occupying whose lands? The Zionists are occupying Palestine. Should I conclude that Judaism is an aggressive religion? Judaism is a religion revealed by God - we believe in Moses. It is not Judaism that is to blame, but those who claim to adhere to it and wrongfully occupy other people's land in its name. http://www.thirdwaymagazine.com/354

What should a Christian magazine interview a Muslim? Shouldn't we be focused on our on faith and response to Islam and the other religions?
Personally, I found it really helpful to see a different perspective on a situation that I don't full understand. Maybe the church should be more open about interfaith dialogues in order is aid peace and unity.

Matt

A Peaceful Britain!!

Found this hidden in the middle of the Times today:

UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) said that arms exporters had added £9.7 billion in new business last year, giving them a larger share of global arms exports than the United States. (The Times,18th June 2008)

This is scary. We say we are a nation for peace yet we are providing various countries weapons.

Weapons are never used for peace. That, in my opinion is a myth. I believe that the church must at all times advocate peace and forgiveness. It is the only way that we will see transformation.

Jesus could have used force, he could have given in to the temptations of power and prestige (Luke 4) but he humbled himself (Phil 2) and gave everything peacefully for the good of others.

Matt

Difficult is worth doing

Honda's latest advert slogan for the new Accord is Difficult is worth doing. There stunt was a live advert on Channel 4. It consisted of a load of people sky diving spelling the word H O N D A in mid air. It looked great, you can see it at this link: http://www.honda.co.uk/accord/

Yesterday, as I saw the poster with these slogan I was reading these words:
"Literally half of God's children on this earth, three billion people, live on less than two dollars a day. And more than one billion people live on less than one dollar per day." (Wallis, Seven Ways to change the World:90).

If difficult is worth doing then why aren't we doing something about this grim statistic. Why am I not doing anything about it? In this chapter, entitled Inclusion and Opportunity, Jim Wallis urges Christians, governments and other faiths to interact with the poor. It is only then that policies and attitudes will change.

God saw the injustice in the world so sent in Jesus to do the difficult, do the impossible. He cam down on to earth and fought for justice, freedom and equality. He out His life on the line. His death was not limited to salvation of souls but the liberty of society from the hold of dictators, oppress and the greedy. What has changed. Nothing, we are the ones that must act and act fast.
Start by signing up for a campaign for social justice at:
http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/keepcampaigning/

Is 61: The Spirit of the Lord is on me now, to bring good news to the poor.

Matt

Changing the world!

Is it possible for individuals to influence that change? How can I, as one person, do anything that will make a difference peoples lives? Is it possible for the world to change a all?
A lot of my reading lately has been around this issue of justice, making a difference and bring hope into hopeless situations. Jim Wallis has presented me with a challenge to make a difference and be a positive voice of God in my community.
In his book, Seven Ways to Change the World he sets out the need for the church he sets out, at great depth, the role of the church in the world, specifically politics. He says; "If the great mountains of greed, injustice, and indifference are to be moved, they will most likely be pushed aside by the mustard seeds of faith" (Wallis, 2007:23).
On Wednesday I heard a SA leader say that social action/justice was just a buzz phrase and only one dimension of the churches role. I could not disagree more, I believe that it is at the very heart, the very centre of the gospel and the church mission in the world today. I can be honest enough to say that I am not engaged as I should be with social justice but I want to be and believe I have to be.
My next few blogs entries will reflect my thoughts and preparation of a journey I believe I am about to embark on.

Matt