Sense & Sensebility

A case has been presented that a supporter of the Jewish state of Israel was marked down in her dissertation at Warwick University by her Pro-Palestine Professor. There has been subsequently statements that the student went on to make changes before having it re-marked by another Professor, to recover the higher mark she felt she was entitled to.

Without knowing all the facts of an instance like this, it can be too easily misjudged. I have heard of other instances where there has been a clash of wills and ideology between student and Mentor.  Additionally cases of so called Christian persecution in the course of their employment have been supported by the popular press but all the facts have not necessarily been declared. In other cases the individuals have not been wise in their actions and it is too easy to play the racist card to support a cause. I know of other Christians who have written papers that present a Christian perspective and the examiners have been of atheist or other persuasions and have been marked down as a result.
We all have to live in a society of very mixed beliefs. It is therefore incumbent upon us all to walk with wisdom in what we do. I’m not suggesting that this student knew the circumstances of her Professor before she started her course but I do know that they do have pre Dissertation meetings to go through the content.

All this should not be; but despite the law, people are people. We must take account of this and without bowing the knee, as I have said before, we need to be as wise as serpents and harmless as Doves.

The Pink lobby have learnt this principle and infiltrated society to the extent whereby there view and position can hardly be contested.  Christians and Jews have in history suffered much persecution and their faith has been strengthened in those times. Today, we lack the church leaders to lead their followers in to battle; they are weak kneed liberal apologists. Christians and Jews!  You must stand up to oppression, but be sure that the case you present is accurate and true so that your enemies can’t claim that you cry Wolf!

Christmas Broadcast

The Trinity Church Brentwood Carol Concert will be broadcast as usual over the Christmas period and I would highly recommend you to record and view at your convenience. The following link is to a preview of the concert. It a vibrant and well produced production of contemporary and traditional songs and well worth viewing.

http://www.youtube.com/user/trinityfacetoface

Sat 24th, 5.30pm, Sky 581
Sun 25th, 10.30pm, Freesat 692
Sun 25th, 8.00pm, TBN 583
Wed 28th, 3.00pm, TBN 583

Have a very happy Christmas.

Atheists Vs, Christian Traditions

An unexpected twist in the moral stance of the Government is creating unusual speculation. On the one hand David Cameron has made an unexpected U turn and made proclamations in support of the value of Traditional Christian values and Nick Clegg has rubbished them accusing him of wanting to return to 50's values.

It depends what you call 50's values! A contributor on Jeremy Vine's show on radio 2 spoke about all the physical and material experiences of life then which have little to do with Christian Values. The true values were in honesty, love, modesty, chastity and marriage.

There will always be a mix of believers as to the benefit of these values; Clearly Dave Cameron is trying to present a sense of belief (because he thinks it’s good for his ratings).  Sarah Sands wrote in the standard today that Atheists were constantly fighting fires because the Christian Traditions are so ingrained into the fabric of society that they keep popping up with a certain regularity. But even though her article was very positive about the value of marriage, she was still supportive of Gay marriage. It just shows how in such a short time since Tony Blair allowed the Gay lobby credence, it has become endemic in society.

The values we need today need to be those that allow for the freedoms achieved in life today but with the freedom of choice to say no to behaviour that is inconsistent with a Godly life.

Poverty

This was posted on MSN today;

'Young people believe poverty is one of the key reasons behind the August riots, according to a new survey.

Behind the Riots, a survey commissioned by The Children's Society, found most 13 to 17-year-olds and adults believed that a reason why people became involved in the trouble that blighted the country was "to get goods and possessions they couldn't afford to buy".

The charity polled 1,004 adults and 1,077 13 to 17-year-olds from across the UK in an online survey between October 3 and November 10. It said they gave a mixed picture overall, with most choosing more than one reason why the riots happened.'

Excuses seem endemic in society today. Blame any one or anything rather than accepting the blame themselves. To suggest that poverty represents the values of 'I can't afford what I want' is banal. Poverty is the lack of the essentials to maintain life. You don't have to have a new flat screen TV, you don't have to have new designer trainers. I didn't see too many people stealing the essentials of life like bread, meat and vegetables!

The concept of what the minimum material possessions are seems to have gone through the roof. As has consequently the sums paid to benefit claimants. There is a section of the extreme left that promote the concept that we all (ie them) should have everything they want. Well yes, they can have what they want if they can afford it and work for it. Stealing it from someone else is never acceptable.

 Traditional values are being put down as old hat and not appropriate for today. Which other values are they prepared to abandon? Are they prepared to see theft being wrong go out the door? Values were held for centuries for a reason, because they worked and we need to keep them.

Christmas

What has this country come to with it's celebration of the Christmas season. Commercialism is the name of the game. Most people look forward to a few days off and office parties, shopping for presents, food and family. Yes, a little of all this may be acceptable but it has gone into major excess for many and it all become a vicious circle that no one feels able to break the bands of commitment to the worship of materialism.

Most people know what Christmas is really about but rarely give it a second thought. I heard of one teenager who was apparently Carol Singing. (Probably 'We wish you a merry Christmas'. That’s all they seem to know when they come to my house). Any way, he was asked what Christmas meant and his answer was "Well it’s when Jesus died, init".

It is tragic that in so many schools there is a fear, or reluctance, of teaching about the Christian religion.

Few teachers have a profound belief anyway so local church minister’s offer a pastoral service in the schools in their locality. Parents need to try to balance the commercialism of Christmas with an understanding of the true meaning with love and joy and peace to all men.