tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80720667563635719332024-03-08T00:55:01.303-08:00Boer's My World--My NeighbourWe live in one world and, according to the teachings of Jesus Christ, every world citizen is my neighbour. That means I am to be concerned about every one. Not only concerned, but to love them and to want the very best for them. So, in this blog, I write about neighbours and social issues, often by bringing in someone else's writing and then commenting on it from my Christian point of few. Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.comBlogger241125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-54837257089207630892018-11-01T13:40:00.000-07:002018-11-01T13:40:02.932-07:00Post 236--Private Schools and Public Schools Are Complementary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Beth Green wrote this article about Private and Public Schools being complementary, not against each other. She should know, for she is engaged in deep professional research on the topic under the umbrella of the Christian Canadian think tank Cardus. Her title says it clearly: "Private schools form and important part of BC's school system" (<i>Vancouver Sun, </i>October 26, 2018, p. G3).<br />
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She offers her opinion in view of the unrelenting opposition to private schools in the province. It is like everything else many of our secular neighbours talk about: If it's Christian and/or independent in education, they will have little truck with it. That, at least, is the case with 39% of the province's population--hardly a majority. I was, in fact, surprised to read this statistic. It's not as bad as I thought. I think it's a case of the loud minority vs a silent majority. Canadian Christians tend to be a quietist lot, something that annoys me to no end. I've noticed that throughout the 43 years of my adult life that I've been abroad.<br />
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Well, Beth's article makes for worthwhile reading. So, go for it and enjoy--and do a rethink if you're among that loud minority. Here goes.....<br />
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<span class="img-caption" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pacific Academy is an independent Christian school in Surrey.</span> <span class="img-author" style="border: 0px; color: #8c8c8c; font-family: Shift-MediumItalic, Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"><span itemprop="creator" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">JASON PAYNE JASON PAYNE</span> / <span itemprop="copyrightHolder" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">VANCOUVER SUN</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s about time we recognized a simple fact about B.C. education. The province’s independent schools are a positive complement to public schools.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">While not identical in their methods or environments, both help to achieve the common good purpose of educating the public. And new research is now establishing how independent schools contribute to educating the whole person, not just academically but socially.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We can now confidently say that B.C.’s independent school graduates cultivate diverse social ties, are active and engaged members of their communities, are committed to the well-being of their neighbours and are ready to give of both time and resources. And, as a bonus, they generally look back on their high school days positively. It so happens they also feel more strongly than public school grads do that they’re prepared to face real life.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This more complete look at provincial school outcomes comes thanks to the newly published <a href="http://email.prnewswire.com/wf/click?upn=-2BPEk3f3sg7UlER1pBPNjYea0G1rCjTMa1TZXawUxmoaz2wWWHxEil1olV9gwYd3-2FeOznG4d7MTy0eKArEAwwtSeFnYUEdpHcN7hkfl0UzmBP3NTw86QHF-2BY6GK2m2qsh3R2PGW8KiPt-2FGdhfh-2BSEn0Ded-2F-2BNkhdTDbqfLXNgnheou0InHcXLfWLK1ADiFY0HftslfT-2BlSs7OY9LW0IV4Q3AOrGgz7pz2V1RBd9GvnMZgpsUIFDySqWHzsxVS-2FDYp_nxlQ7brBGFppAjj8rbIc80ZUvh9G7JadrClKwbnPSHtn7UbRfbGxhbuMxnasS-2FFzqKFvMhUDOxHfgMYr14eYtI3T7hNC18GOPi4jmwFkCP1sms8iuyoHcCWsusWhqebMRYomiDnk4zV9weZoB50FSS4B2n9dgQbjc0fEW13xe0iX1l2ZL4sI6DbbhUlrlgyi3xrxHL86x47aqfBJWfn1BIhQJIHOCwr5En3XlapJqynSTEszmkbtx1vXIR3kVugAgTuxe069JrdfG-2FzpNU1YXzu4EHXWZL68AwZiD9QtqTq4u-2F6zuSdj-2FIQF8PkWCBI0" style="border: 0px; color: black; cursor: pointer; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="s2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">B.C. findings of the 2018 Cardus Education Survey</span></a>. It compares B.C.’s public school graduates to grads from Catholic, Evangelical Protestant and non-religious independent schools. Controlling for things like family background and income, we’re able to isolate the effect that schools have on students. The results are telling.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Take civic engagement. Many Canadians worry about the <nobr style="font-size: inherit;"><a class="pxInta" href="https://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/beth-green-private-schools-form-an-important-part-of-b-c-s-school-system#" id="PXLINK_3_0_3" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: initial !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: initial !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: initial !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">loss</a></nobr> of civility in our culture, the decline in how welcoming our country is and a drop in charitable giving. There’s evidence that B.C. independent schools are helping to counteract those negative trends.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">B.C.’s Protestant schools seem to shine in developing students who grow to be generous adults. Of all grads in B.C., they’re most likely to <nobr style="font-size: inherit;"><a class="pxInta" href="https://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/beth-green-private-schools-form-an-important-part-of-b-c-s-school-system#" id="PXLINK_2_0_2" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: initial !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: initial !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: initial !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">donate money to</a></nobr> help others.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Non-religious independent schools, meanwhile, produce graduates who are 2.2 times more likely than public-school grads to volunteer. That’s a strong sign of social engagement. R</span><span class="s1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">eligious independent school grads also display diverse social ties.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Evangelical Protestant school graduates are just as likely as public-school grads to have a friend who is gay or lesbian, a recent immigrant, of a different race, a co-worker, has a university degree, makes more than $100,000 annually, or makes less than $25,000 annually. Catholic independent school grads are almost identical to the evangelicals in this area.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">B.C. independent schools don’t just help shape student character. They also help in other, more pragmatic, ways.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Non-religious and Catholic independent schools seem to excel in preparing graduates for careers. Their graduates reported average incomes up to $16,000 higher than public or evangelical Protestant grads. The non-religious and Catholic independent school grads were also more likely to attend university or a graduate program. Evangelical Protestant and public school grads were tied on that <nobr style="font-size: inherit;"><a class="pxInta" href="https://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/beth-green-private-schools-form-an-important-part-of-b-c-s-school-system#" id="PXLINK_1_0_1" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: initial !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: initial !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: initial !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">score</a></nobr>.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And B.C. independent schools of all types seem to be doing well in preparing students for “real life.” <nobr style="font-size: inherit;"><a class="pxInta" href="https://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/beth-green-private-schools-form-an-important-part-of-b-c-s-school-system#" id="PXLINK_0_0_0" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: initial !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: initial !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: initial !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Survey</a></nobr> respondents (all of whom are aged 24 to 39) rated their former high schools on how those institutions prepared them for things like work, post-secondary school, and religious life. Now at least six years out of high school, those who graduated from an independent school felt more strongly than their public-school counterparts that their school had prepared them well.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The findings are clear. Independent schools are a productive and positive part of the B.C. education system, educating more than one in 10 students. Independent enrolment continues to grow, providing the province with a cost-effective means of meeting a diverse set of schooling needs. So, it’s not surprising that 61 per cent of British Columbians said in 2017 that <a href="http://email.prnewswire.com/wf/click?upn=-2BPEk3f3sg7UlER1pBPNjYea0G1rCjTMa1TZXawUxmoaz2wWWHxEil1olV9gwYd3-2FeOznG4d7MTy0eKArEAwwtSeFnYUEdpHcN7hkfl0UzmBP3NTw86QHF-2BY6GK2m2qsh3R2PGW8KiPt-2FGdhfh-2BSEn0Ded-2F-2BNkhdTDbqfLXNgnheou0InHcXLfWLK1ADiFY0HftslfT-2BlSs7OY9LW0IV4Qyg0YILTUQEI6e4T9nGysTiFYwTGUlT-2BRWPzPJVWruU8_nxlQ7brBGFppAjj8rbIc80ZUvh9G7JadrClKwbnPSHtn7UbRfbGxhbuMxnasS-2FFzqKFvMhUDOxHfgMYr14eYtI3T7hNC18GOPi4jmwFkCP1sms8iuyoHcCWsusWhqebMRYomiDnk4zV9weZoB50FSS4B2n9dgQbjc0fEW13xe0hOscqzGdYICBKbPzdgns0LNCjtcCr4JOULY97c1OV9mRYwsGU0lWTnr-2FKV-2FC8kBzsX3t4xWfi7BrBmWq6b2ATksMVvGRz-2FkR6Jo0-2FeiTchF5DLF8MbNc9Mk79DDREn0uUE46l9hE5FHhpJPb6YLmh4" style="border: 0px; color: black; cursor: pointer; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="s2" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">they supported full or partial government funding for religious schools</span></a>.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">B.C.’s independent and public schools are complementary parts of one education system. They can and should learn from each other. The sooner we recognize this, the better the province will be able to improve education for everybody.</span></div>
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-23433377831189396412018-10-29T19:31:00.000-07:002018-10-29T19:31:00.953-07:00Post 235--"Human Rights"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Recently the European Court of Human Rights upheld an Austrian woman's conviction of calling Prophet Muhammad a pedophile. The conviction, it ruled, did not restrict her freedom of speech. The "Court's" judgement was approved by a higher court apparently who ruled that the earlier one had "carefully balanced her right to freedom of expression with the right of others to have their religious feelings protected." She is said to have publicly declared that the Prophet's marriage to a young girl was akin to "pedophilia." Back in 2011 she was convicted of "disparaging religious doctrines" and ordered to pay a fine of $713 plus costs, a ruling that was also upheld in higher places (The Associated Press, <i>Vancouver Sun, </i>October 26, 2018)<i>. </i><br />
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I do not know enough about that marriage to argue for or against the woman's opinion. Even if I had enough data to support her opinion, I would definitely not state it this way in public. As a Christian, I have no desire to insult what my neighbour holds dear and precious, even if I disagree with him. I may wish to convince him of another truth and change her mind about his own, but I would do so with respect in the fashion of dialogue, where two partners explain their different opinions, opposing, contradictory opinions even, but always with respect. <br />
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The only time I would turn more vociferous would be when "the other" becomes unjust or oppressive. If it were an extreme case, I might lose it.<br />
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You may have noticed that I placed quotation marks around "court" in the first paragraph. There's a good reason for that, at least from the Canadian point of view. Canadian human rights "courts" are anything but courts. Not infrequently they are described as "kangaroo courts." They hand out sentences without the solid data that characterize the more standard courts. I've had no experience with them, but I read the newspapers and too often read about the soft "legal" --there's those quotation marks again!-- reasoning practiced in these "courts," reasoning based more on bias and prejudice than on facts and legalities. Whether this holds true for their parallels in the EU, I am not sure. <br />
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Of course, Christians who read the Bible literally can find plenty of excuses for berating other religions. The Old Testament (OT) makes short thrift of the pagan religions that surround Israel without any attempt at showing respect. The New Testament (NT) has its own examples. Jesus, in fact, castigates the leaders of His <i>own</i> religion something fierce, for having twisted its spirit and turning it into a vehicle of oppression. He leaves our Austrian woman far behind in the dust with His insults! The issue for Him was that the good of the best religion was so thwarted and abused that it became impossible for our Lord even to control Himself. He became totally disrespectful in public! He became a model revolutionary!<br />
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So, there is a place for lack of respect, for telling it as it really is, but there has to be a pretty good reason for that. Jesus pushed the line for appropriateness; I would not go beyond Him, for His was based on true insight and wisdom and on love for the poor who were the victims.<br />
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In today's Vancouver, the egoism and greed of the property owners would probably evoke the same outburst from Jesus as did the religious leaders of His day. It is no wonder that entire groups of residents blare and yell it out in often brutal language. It is a shame that the Church and individual Christians are playing the same game as their secular counterparts. I am ashamed of them and am moving closer to shouting down especially church leaders who only bring bandages and ambulance service to the homeless, instead of attacking the systemic issues of greed and selfishness. <br />
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But, to come back to our Austrian lady, should she have said what she did? I would probably say "no." But should she have the legal freedom of speech to say it? I would probably say "yes." Freedom of speech should not be restricted by emotions and bias. Political correctness is going too far. But that's human rights "courts" for you. </div>
Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-28247847568178759692018-10-27T20:56:00.000-07:002018-10-27T20:56:39.404-07:00Post 234--The Word and words<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hi, I'm back. It's been too long, I know. I have given excuses and reasons for long absentees, but won't waste your time on that today. Flew in from Boston last night and am still jet lagged. So, I hope that the lag does not make me sound lagged! At any rate, the piece below is not mine; so, it should be safe. <br />
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I do hope I will be more faithful from now on. The pressure of my other writings is less, which gives me more freedom to pay attention to this blog. Happy reading!<br />
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<b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><a data-auth="Verified" href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmalcolmguite.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F01%2F30%2Fthe-words-for-what-if%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C14e84d4e7acd4f608d6108d63c31948e%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636762580969472790&sdata=R15KatNp5ZlfPvNgL6NipYkuPQDExg%2FnbpcHgin7I30%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/the-words-for-what-if/" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="Bbcq6g6p5FdzkjsitoGrFT5xBrh+CckFcE/CMpxqlFQAme0tsBBl9Ftjzdm7fgt6Bx8O7VpT/WHu8T8JM0dzrtSRVPzXA/a2+WR8vW1bOhOaUq5sZG1GPj5wHSMcsD/Q+6eXFIKoEyPXgXWhdkg2Ym6hjqAn7IZVbt7oUS42l/o=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Protected by Outlook: https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/the-words-for-what-if/. Click or tap to follow the link.">The Words for ‘What If…’</a></b></div>
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<a data-auth="Verified" href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmalcolmguite.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F01%2F30%2Fthe-words-for-what-if%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C14e84d4e7acd4f608d6108d63c31948e%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636762580969472790&sdata=R15KatNp5ZlfPvNgL6NipYkuPQDExg%2FnbpcHgin7I30%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/the-words-for-what-if/" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="Bbcq6g6p5FdzkjsitoGrFT5xBrh+CckFcE/CMpxqlFQAme0tsBBl9Ftjzdm7fgt6Bx8O7VpT/WHu8T8JM0dzrtSRVPzXA/a2+WR8vW1bOhOaUq5sZG1GPj5wHSMcsD/Q+6eXFIKoEyPXgXWhdkg2Ym6hjqAn7IZVbt7oUS42l/o=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Protected by Outlook: https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/the-words-for-what-if/. Click or tap to follow the link.">https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/the-words-for-what-if/</a></div>
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When I first posted this poem on facebook I prefaced it with this remark: For different reasons we have all on both sides of the Atlantic, been reflecting on the way our words can travel and unravel beyond us, on the need to care for the tenor of what we say, here’s a poem reflecting further on that:</div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>“<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”</i> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mathew 12:36-37</span></div>
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What if every word we say<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Never ends or fades away,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Gathers volume gathers weigh,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Drums and dins us with dismay<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Surges on some dreadful day<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />When we cannot get away<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Whelms us till we drown?</div>
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What if not a word is lost,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />What if every word we cast<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Cruel, cunning, cold, accurst,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Every word we cut and paste<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Echoes to us from the past<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Fares and finds us first and last<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Haunts and hunts us down?</div>
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What if every murmuration,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Every otiose oration<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Every oath and imprecation,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Insidious insinuation,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Every blogger’s aberration,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Every facebook fabrication<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Every twittered titivation,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Unexamined asservation<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Idiotic iteration,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Every facile explanation,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Drags us to the ground?</div>
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What if each polite evasion<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Every word of defamation,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Insults made by implication,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Querulous prevarication,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Compromise in convocation,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Propaganda for the nation<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />False or flattering peruasion,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Blackmail and manipulation<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Simulated desparation<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Grows to such reverberation<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />That it shakes our own foundation,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Shakes and brings us down?</div>
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Better that some words be lost,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Better that they should not last,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Tongues of fire and violence.<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />O Word through whom the world is blessed,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Word in whom all words are graced,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Do not bring us to the test,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Give our clamant voices rest,<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />And the rest is silence.</div>
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Also published (and audio reading)</i></div>
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">on <a data-auth="Verified" href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cslewis.org%2Fblog%2Fwhat-if-a-poem-by-malcolm-guite%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C14e84d4e7acd4f608d6108d63c31948e%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636762580969472790&sdata=Ef9EoG4QhMoBWpOc0eCrK0RNJvVPQsNnShgemNKflac%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="http://www.cslewis.org/blog/what-if-a-poem-by-malcolm-guite/" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="NSWDvP3ccYwksAopnTl1Dvdt3/qLHA0H5uFF7u8agWsefHMSD6mG83S2sMRHbQ1eQE/3kux+58nZ++hoRHyxtcYkH9b1ZqwNsNNVNsORLZllqih5l63/rCUR2v2gL6hnkd1NbPsV6N6cQqBsaZB/rO8ZvGQtacAMos62q7hGL6A=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Protected by Outlook: http://www.cslewis.org/blog/what-if-a-poem-by-malcolm-guite/. Click or tap to follow the link.">January 27, 2011</a> by <a data-auth="Verified" href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cslewis.org%2Fblog%2Fauthor%2Fcslewisfoundation%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C14e84d4e7acd4f608d6108d63c31948e%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636762580969472790&sdata=uFOykYIQoPNaGfQ3Q9rj3R6CVf7IJ2BgLmf8e956SsA%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="http://www.cslewis.org/blog/author/cslewisfoundation/" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="KW+OW9ph+0jPaxr/oFk9VsJzs/xo2HvyuL/PhWGb1R90SFKdujEVwA2eFq2hX9bmNrsJ27w9SRbtbAozRLLcQSQYkDSyyhHkoOWYc8ruSVFWppkAT+NLPQFg9eWA7oIDDcARSXWpJDgCoKVYmNtWyRCtT/C1dcB5xwvATGwvAbU=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Protected by Outlook: http://www.cslewis.org/blog/author/cslewisfoundation/. Click or tap to follow the link.">cslewisfoundation</a></i></div>
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><a data-auth="Verified" href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cslewis.org%2Fblog%2Fwhat-if-a-poem-by-malcolm-guite%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C14e84d4e7acd4f608d6108d63c31948e%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636762580969472790&sdata=Ef9EoG4QhMoBWpOc0eCrK0RNJvVPQsNnShgemNKflac%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="http://www.cslewis.org/blog/what-if-a-poem-by-malcolm-guite/" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="NSWDvP3ccYwksAopnTl1Dvdt3/qLHA0H5uFF7u8agWsefHMSD6mG83S2sMRHbQ1eQE/3kux+58nZ++hoRHyxtcYkH9b1ZqwNsNNVNsORLZllqih5l63/rCUR2v2gL6hnkd1NbPsV6N6cQqBsaZB/rO8ZvGQtacAMos62q7hGL6A=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Protected by Outlook: http://www.cslewis.org/blog/what-if-a-poem-by-malcolm-guite/. Click or tap to follow the link.">http://www.cslewis.org/blog/what-if-a-poem-by-malcolm-guite/</a></i></div>
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<a data-auth="Verified" href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faudioboo.fm%2Fboos%2F263714-what-if&data=02%7C01%7C%7C14e84d4e7acd4f608d6108d63c31948e%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636762580969472790&sdata=6kFfZXmRsQajlciKcYbHjHoRkQfG8X0bbrd5eSEEY88%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="http://audioboo.fm/boos/263714-what-if" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="HfcfQ7fBa49Ik7f8Bw8tssbD79La840Fp4ORWxKEqjeF4Rq9YfYhxzJ2GPUp2cPNU0IuCkQpq0G1uejlwJTlfZmd0kJiK3jyMLpXObbfGMYiPipHaFgkcTAMWYpqQNf/KkwoxIv2s00UhBnlhsKrlzouCM/q/DGZzslh8cgF1aA=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Protected by Outlook: http://audioboo.fm/boos/263714-what-if. Click or tap to follow the link.">you can listen to him reading the poem here</a>).</div>
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-80626374999312808412018-09-26T08:11:00.000-07:002018-09-26T08:11:25.611-07:00Post 233--Cocaine in Bananas!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I told you yesterday, I sent an email to the person I hope can help me with the technicalities of running a blog. He has not yet responded, but the history between us gives me every reason he will at least response--and, I hope, do more than just respond. Today's post is in good shape. For some reason Jim Denison's Forum always fits this blog exactly as to format, font, etc. So, today we're in for an easy ride. Thanks, Jim.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jim's Forum today starts with a hair raising story about cocaine hidden in bananas delivered to a prison. And not just a little bit--$18 million dollars worth! From there he takes off on the question of "Christ and Culture," a subject that has been on the Christian radar ever since the days of Christ. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, that has always been the central focus of this blog as well, even if it is not always specified explicitly. Jim mentions Abraham Kuyper and his famous saying about "every square inch" of this world, whether nature or culture or anything else, belonging to Christ. My wife and I have even published our memoirs under that title: <i>Every Square Inch: A Missionary Memoir....</i> See www.SocialTheology.com/boeriana.htm. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But that focus does not exclude publishing occasional hard-hitting posts, when that becomes necessary. Post 232 is one of those--a blunt political statement. This is not a mushy perspective that always is couched in gentlemen's or politically correct language. Christianity demands hard choices and blunt language at times. If you expect me to separate politics from faith, you're knockin' on the wrong door. Church & state--yes, they must be kept separate to protect both, but politics and faith is a different story. They cannot be separated, for every type of politics is undergirded by some perspective or belief, whether just assumed or explicitly spelled out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, lest I steal Jim's thunder, I will let you free to munch on Jim's column for today.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #ff7f4d;">September 26, 2018</span></strong></em><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #eaeaea; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #eaeaea; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: georgia, times, "times new roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">|</span></span></strong></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #eaeaea; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: georgia, times, "times new roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></strong><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #eaeaea;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: dimgrey; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">READ TIME:</strong> 4 minutes</span></span></div>
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Speaking to the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, President Trump stated that <a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D29ce9b1de4%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562296866902&sdata=IWyoUsf6I7IiBRGVTRWhvuYsOroJLKh%2FW8s49b%2FjsQM%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=29ce9b1de4&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="FcI07oX7tZte+YDbDT/7EK/AtJGvXth5lpsQ2p0dKUqNEc2BJDPIoE7zV7COwa2kw0h3VtFOqoqcOdPTuVhRmKresYKaLw3jWug1nxwnkkd1QyACa/tv2bn+tVGd2O+XVWOE7w5FSueq/xJc4iH86FJj4LgFCDcbEAGXV2wjKTQ=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">American culture is built on “deep faith.”</a></div>
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For evidence, we could point to <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Rolling Stone</em>‘s headline: “<a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3Dc944002bc8%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562296866902&sdata=kqD5BaBrFTHZi2xOZU1zbWm9xt8xat7wNPtV0HYpSg8%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=c944002bc8&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="MsNPcGIb7kjNX8PFSG3qrKw551p1mVVSeyS1OW6wm2oIlcBMb+eBXHZcgU/a4J4m2K1Q2u1e8ncUXuXwb1HwoSxMp7rYJ5dboUXpixNm36rvUS+x8zvVB7PhRoki+TPhfBip/PN9n0xFGft5cLzZHOgb68iO9RIV+muubmPtwBk=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">A Christian Singer Is Bigger Than Drake and Ariana Grande This Week</a>.” Lauren Daigle’s new album topped records by Drake, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj on the Billboard 200.</div>
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Or we could note Pew Research Center’s report that <a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D80d9e84224%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562296866902&sdata=JrhWU77ZiVI4g1FpxnACvrEq7T5WJnTZfN35XxwpMoU%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=80d9e84224&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="dcCMWsb7TpOEg7ISmfLHHHugS1+9erD/jdBl6Y2LjwxrD/AOZ18LWyukP7cytelyRtM0Sko4jPa0XV0TyovK2wvbGvC6ZTFRfNvokYprZjXb6VbDPag+PGdlpgxsY0ouiMeoApoomOm4tUemLW+fqlAWQz/4BcW0LG7dbJhG0jQ=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">more than 70 percent of Americans identify as Christians</a>. America’s largest religious demographic is “Evangelical Protestant” at 25.4 percent.</div>
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However, America’s second-largest religious demographic is “Unaffiliated (religious ‘nones’)” at 22.8 percent. This is a larger percentage than “Catholic” (20.8 percent) or “Mainline Protestant” (14.7 percent).</div>
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As a sign of our troubled times, the <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Washington Post</em> reports that <a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D7ba6b03e19%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562296866902&sdata=yybc6gtIl0UP20VyUFl8wwMhn7r6mgJKRka9b9goz54%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=7ba6b03e19&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="y/+wbk8QdDWNexP2V9E2rIBu7zG96L3804o8NqIYogfIZrfIE1J4pYdFEGg4dYMBdmEs42iANkvvX8hHrE3oKBlwFuRZXiCVKxwWFHk5CeedsUpOtlA7wL9SGRO+9jFmPlOUGWOLZmSjNu68KGNury6mqM7aoTBBnoe+b95MD4U=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">homicides in Washington, DC, have now surpassed the number of people killed in the city in all of 2017</a>. As another sign of the times, <a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3Dfb4ec1821f%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562296866902&sdata=IJ29okg%2BgkTXIxkhXmxPba3leN3Z%2FO1ONCnzkGJOoOc%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=fb4ec1821f&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="OdN661tCxFAyIHT+8VuovrdKk4SgC2kNuDdwxjaMFmmX+1VKdoXvtwRkDyQIjvY+mg23NCgHCEezA0CJ4Xgn/Kv6NqSmBnLWiwtTJDo5icGalEqBbm6bUVb4JoA9xSOdqsG17B1muqK4mYjCMmlK8PT2CWrRyr709hwJak4KSUc=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">a group of protesters heckled Sen. Ted Cruz and his wife</a> inside a Washington restaurant, forcing them to leave early.</div>
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And authorities say <a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D6663ae9372%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562296866902&sdata=yiNT%2Bc5CeMNNGgxHr063EmbYIx7qrRkgoStUPVgCfPg%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=6663ae9372&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="MU4LTdXDutgLJ+cb7fONlzhAIk7cShJ7ie/GfgH2L6lY/MdAWLXqpXHHQ+r2Q4cVALaE8D/pcEZ4+pr3Q3NZ2k9niQZHGFaR5vZ0R228XC442BluNs/sfatVJp8rPqD49EtnGJvUyNlOw9frZTYuynAeuOYkCFDjdeH5nD3rVlM=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">bananas donated to a Texas prison had nearly $18 million worth of cocaine hidden in the boxes</a>.</div>
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Is culture like the weather?</h2>
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As God’s people living in a fallen world, God’s word calls us to embrace a transformative balance.</div>
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We are warned to “touch no unclean thing” (<a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D28a3d28455%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562296866902&sdata=qZAhmhTiPQILez9Me0sdCXsZTuAUGtblJ9VudA6zfag%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=28a3d28455&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="q612MALOsbqVpMJvYQvokUFimKy3PHxa8X/TbSOGtuBuJTxkhoc8AcEgc20EdwTQB7BIzc9FtlWOoJfNY3loTQm74IS6XlZoSbjH3wat7HgiIsxpxS2jaWOWJSUmzMnWJfUesJraZd0jVOqVPEssfNCnyMu3SrvhfZM9IxbDA/M=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">Isaiah 52:11</a>, quoted by Paul in <a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D14fe2efc0d%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562296866902&sdata=GJu6lpfni8eMgB1vb%2Bb5NzfhzAeZv7lKz1aLQ1ICRFs%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=14fe2efc0d&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="i5Or8XxVuLEEdnyrALMRlEXemUCVu8wbVGlYrSIz+hHjPZzSEScP4s4TETejHwIOpzfVD6Go3rvsrVUy0ZtcxZLkPbl+vOipOX9thJWUZuhYGKzSsNg1+pG80QzzQ/pjpjwop65H7wUiivp7VQeGAxNnQFvQSvNmdfgI44+qXTo=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">2 Corinthians 6:17</a>). Much of our culture is off-limits for sincere followers of Jesus.</div>
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As D. A. Carson notes in his perceptive <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">Christ and Culture Revisited</em>, some evangelicals liken the culture to the weather–we can’t change it, so we should focus on individual souls and leave society to itself.</div>
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However, others claim that we earn the right to share Christ with people by first responding to the systemic issues they face–poverty, sex trafficking, and so on. We must engage culture to engage those affected by culture.</div>
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Both “sides” can claim biblical warrant. Jesus won Zacchaeus to himself (<a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3Dd3d6f3691f%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562296866902&sdata=SL3RlKzzFjYXAyar3zSDTv13YSKVc%2FjKfJetAFb601E%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=d3d6f3691f&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="RWw0uR8X8nCx/PaCtueiwW/EE4TMBJe3wv0ETZLPFC7PumaNpGMQR4f9SbUtVl0Aq+4pKahmiXcJS6HBZKr8/KZD3X+RBzSQN+JNPEuml/IOQTMOTi9tEpPcS2mxl2zjNRCRfrCo8MNOvA33kJbC6nX65Q1mOOUD7/Z6Mk1vLnQ=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">Luke 19:1-10</a>), but he did not confront the evils of Roman taxation that Zacchaeus represented. However, like the Old Testament prophets before him, our Lord condemned the hypocrisy inherent in the cultural systems of his day (cf. <a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3Db04d88fba5%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562296866902&sdata=R3pzeoJUa5tMi7hEM2qy8iJcPpQqjw5qAR6HtfL35lk%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=b04d88fba5&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="xfxMA7k5l3nwuZNpCg8NyvpypccMBTSuSbnjj5lrRnBx/p2Olj9SMHz+VtCSm88u6wyklFHcLwpsXCg/+Nslp1//9MSuk7klSsrhAFyq1aVZcGnGRGYEcX3p98l1iEan52hRGaf4x5AESSrrmdj4fegdJZhqTozhZGEktgOTSsE=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">Matthew 23:1-36</a>).</div>
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According to Carson, we should serve people <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">and</em> serve culture, but we should serve Christ above all. Abraham Kuyper was right: “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">all</em>, does not cry, ‘Mine!'” (his emphasis).</div>
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The most countercultural leader of all time?</h2>
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God’s call to engage culture for Christ means that we must sometimes act in countercultural ways.</div>
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Daniel prayed to God in direct defiance of the king’s command (<a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D0d0795017d%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562296866902&sdata=qB%2Boze9zWmm3dDR1GYWajfvcvmFNpiw4qPhnVCdBq1w%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=0d0795017d&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="Wi0jiysOkB1B7LbHT9IbYEy2BP2UFecGesN6d3bj2yzd1vUo4cJUmYlwhQz9K5OkHjbCx8l0mwytf2+S3j1qVXmHgZmdZNLQdCeVFtUK6AExMwx3iE8Y50mvxOlLzrskELLYacux+YWu28bfr8qDyvfq3TQ6RkrJLxG+UIAXfyw=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">Daniel 6:6-11</a>). Peter and John refused the Jewish Supreme Court’s demand that they cease preaching the gospel (<a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3Dd15f299d7b%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562296866902&sdata=AmQ1rLZCKR2tI2F%2FYfWynycI78nJfoIGkwwGIyc5wTU%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=d15f299d7b&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="p7kTspx8SZrq2clS06KW1M7whTbMINPDLjYveVLE5afnz4lDqh0PB/Qo0xUa5ufyZJsStYbPGRC+Of8Run+0Y3VDu55g/GpYtURB5PQTsW5R4R0cYwcVe2TAt3QXEp9zRN9FR2fR/o2JM+Ieuu3YljYWsu4JhmNQVOQPnasDnEM=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">Acts 4:18-20</a>). Paul defied his Jewish culture in welcoming Gentiles without qualification into God’s family (<a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D4624acfe82%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562296866902&sdata=90GbkE1yQrmK6x9Jiz03xX4NdwNtSRZKm7GGsaNjkkE%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=4624acfe82&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="oOXP1G/Y7QVJVC86U5erw00qHQzCNh+luWFfYd6PN7Gk7dwBlE5JSkM4QAwSiOqg89t5z9AyPf0uU+dvCccra19DCY35FhbvlMiqvDuvQgdQBkKEYEIMb8Ew/ANeeU+PZ4nLn+84kcuhhbMih/yvGulSDmfRztrNkbHd3EftqXo=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">Galatians 2:15-21</a>).</div>
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Jesus may have been the most countercultural leader of all time. It’s hard to think of anything he did that did not defy the conventional wisdom of his day in some way.</div>
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He assembled his apostolic band from Galilean businessmen rather than Judean rabbis. From harvesting grain on the Sabbath (<a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D70af3cd673%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562296866902&sdata=JNHvDeQ9gbR2VENRJN4HrmuCrlgquPi8fx8kJ5oIGII%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=70af3cd673&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="K4Ks/csb9Tpvwwa+qzIf2hCGGGoDJByY7lw6bJdOK0z9I5eXnI+MRVTlyh9gb5v+pBd2gXS7CkBFwAIyGSQGNYKl9X/8elwy6MFmRvy/GlTpJizJLaGrBPPmD0Td2SEfMYa4mYKuhOd9d/nJU7GMim/CVNJYDLtqnKni4kZgf7c=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">Mark 2:23-27</a>) to touching a leper (<a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3Decab4bfdd3%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562297023154&sdata=jka2XDtAV9XBLyHHWraHUVtOlhLNHuc%2BboDwwJQhpWo%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=ecab4bfdd3&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="X5P8ONQ6Si9RxCV4Pi1nWTAq4wg8JOZifddtYsgr7QfiWK9UsweCyZ6xNWs7vKbBKGKKLj8wCHrLsSzJE9cGIS2tFnD68yYars5knYsIvRW8HlCuLUYn+CWqcJUIFM6rSIM9yzIOriMQZGYsH9RA6a6kbd0BWtUQar1+wyqbAVo=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">Matthew 8:3</a>) to befriending a Samaritan woman (<a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D5519a6ec45%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562297023154&sdata=qVu0QOH5tYo%2B4USQNZh7FU3dEwly%2FsW8OSY9vOvYwD4%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=5519a6ec45&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="x36x5ejyO24zwnekoGrGilfyP3AeZjLwp6qCyhg55muRe/fqSaWvA8Yi1M4TOF7PmCICqJuUBUx44RMnoI/PXWDrXPF7ik7OjgOQdT7dkrX3VEetHTDZoJYkFr1XjLKB4Dnyn/W1Ge0m02wS/eduZjG2J18JAIz3Sj/vW40dJxE=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">John 4</a>) to eating with “tax collectors and sinners” (<a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D476716d2ca%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562297023154&sdata=n%2FrcTIJiE7nVqMnCq%2B2Y%2BgcQ7ouNACcIqXf6Y4A351E%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=476716d2ca&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="ebTLUfIm7vO5SjBdD+l3xGRQq+gY+oe3Tffsus8Tqmh6mxMX7x+CzJbj0j3uf0C+TnMHNRzOKBCKPkrboGCHCR5dRO2zgWLrT1bPZ/sxWUAmUIXXdzCHYC1cwkUUUi0ypSt85TpFo31eQGGFoK4+p0ouCcMjBzKufby/8pzlFXc=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">Matthew 9:10-13</a>), his ministry defied the expectations of his culture. Even when the crowds welcomed him as their Messiah (<a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3Dbc51ee0cec%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562297023154&sdata=U%2B%2F54uyjTVqToVOenXiidAZEv159aMcmcrIrXCyw5TM%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=bc51ee0cec&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="KfI4oiu8X/BoWAy7KqQZfUNAi7J806fTrbobVoGCdO2rQc12vMgJ4+NS7bXpHC6LEMzjDGFZlyHm0bE7XRPAz0pfChhjoB7P7ctUO1FVTXmkCGNbILvtzMyTaHymqa34LztQxirrGQhjwI7tCbyqxDfMNYtOmnMMxlLJmUAItPU=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">Matthew 21:1-10</a>), he shocked them by dying on a Roman cross.</div>
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It stands to reason that those who serve God must oppose those who oppose him.</div>
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“We must be made disciples supernaturally”</h2>
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But here’s where our call becomes more complicated: our Lord wants us to stand against sin, but he also wants us to love sinners.</div>
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Upon learning that God had rejected Saul because of his disobedience, Samuel “cried to the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord</span> all night” (<a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D973b5d0c5d%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562297023154&sdata=md0ej9yWH7Sya5NVcaZ27vCeYRVocgoRdShKCnQGP8A%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=973b5d0c5d&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="gy0BT1PQNZbFZ3zAukC/1e0TrVsqkXTjsE4JZagA3JBt5wPGlG+cMeMklRgUhx0jhbT+N77RU7WECDOWQCPdAQspIe3vXSIvWLl0HBSKpNC8EYtRi2Lfj3HQSd3UEMI2Tb1yOy4SbwkeT7w2VK4Z3+rOLIp1MmvB6J7xM3LjDB8=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">1 Samuel 15:11</a>). Paul had “great sorrow and unceasing anguish” in his heart for his lost Jewish kinsmen (<a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D93af33bb2e%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562297023154&sdata=IyBrfmoKN0FVAVjYYRJywcKHX%2BwJNmjMfsd0MMwkxF8%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=93af33bb2e&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="a5c0LHN5HBIXcf+gmiNFqwmzOJz6TVeeUtIzTtWcMdsq+JJThVpu8DDIMpoGRswphjUsosSORNPLYlRtF9GHrRvIna+GcMN+dY+PzElAQ3fyv0QwJniAEZdxcfFYYto+zxKKLpSNO5FBDTzSTx3zQ3T4Bx7D38/irZaReQAsAPM=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">Romans 9:2</a>). Jesus wept over Jerusalem’s rejection of their Messiah (<a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D137fe1729d%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562297023154&sdata=wjPq7IEr0XXmT%2BEpvl2qfSqh1hrE9SsSK7EZHe2GiRo%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=137fe1729d&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="RY27hoQaX+G8ik02NN+7MEf0THTpO9x+n+mn9PfFSXzQMLdJlJQVIJMxJToDd+90kEKqDC3nnAGJlVrdfT1k/T3nAMFwkWFnTq7+YNaHrk4U9V6R1XO81zZ/UAhsd/5hCt+HFcToIHxhIx5rCRCBdcWm8ro1Ks8lMBaKxjMFXz8=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">Luke 19:41-44</a>).</div>
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“Speaking the truth in love” is God’s word for us today (<a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D1c63357fe8%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562297023154&sdata=D8Ysws0Kv2125uz6KEg6TRUgXCnLnHO4eOJnW1yhvJo%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=1c63357fe8&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="qurkcr+GtrUjqyNHrfTtf0lqe9dntXpjvgwvX3c9pPKh33iahMPW4RV4/YOtr8fqT8Ip7umvepV/AgPzNHJ30xsvW10a91kyMxcfrXPGc0He8/zX0eMGv2Na4gY1n+7QKGErI1kTDYSc3DIvwwYakqGDeMPZ+NDmw80Ug9VN5IU=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">Ephesians 4:15</a>). Such compassion for the lost mirrors the heart of a Father who is “not wishing that any should perish” (<a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3Dd96cadbd8d%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562297023154&sdata=R2oov9iQEir2zZcAQSaYsDhWEgXN6B%2FDPLqU6NrDKnM%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=d96cadbd8d&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="yehiZSMf9BFvLCQtGWX6xflvgVbeC+3w/OnSRRkWmL6Ojgprt7pJoAEz7KQhkZ7ORwh2X4gtqMSF1MZrYCQeOdSpeQ+UBTliUswfrN3brPoSOcNF3iPSNFdk9Sd/CE6mSi6lmalI7UZsXwruY+S2z1Sk/Ew+cuHxJFA31iPuYX0=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">2 Peter 3:9</a>) but wants everyone to “turn, and live” (<a data-auth="VerificationFailed" href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3Dc644cab892%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C147f1c8c51234b67a9ae08d6239ecda6%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636735562297023154&sdata=ZJJonde8y1Ly0OjOu9c4o0UGZ3DuJqgmKlXB7brJRMw%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=c644cab892&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="FbkOLbBl3SdQE34gaNBVyoz8MoF00sVrGHBAZRDE2vqHYjY8WZqNTaOdnFPmnqVPivbXY9NDef0zVt/Ji+yQo4R/fbgcJCT1nriUm2PYUWaSx0rCKoTkug2bYD7ZFCB3SziZ+KdKmyCwmsH7wka/LC6WbHFfzce8CU2FfYJ00ok=" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #2baadf; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">Ezekiel 18:32</a>).</div>
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And it earns us a hearing with those we are called to serve. We can reject the criticisms of an enemy far more easily than those of a friend.</div>
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A prayer in the dark</h2>
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I was walking in my neighborhood early yesterday morning and marveled at the beauty of the full moon. The darker the streets I walked, the brighter the moon seemed.</div>
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I found myself praying that the Son would be reflected in my life as fully as the sun was reflected in the moon. I prayed that I would set aside anything that blocks my ability to reflect God’s truth and love to those who need them. And I prayed that I would stay faithful in the dark until the Son returns at dawn.</div>
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-71064273308036370082018-09-25T07:31:00.002-07:002018-09-26T07:45:05.472-07:00Post 232--Intolerant Liberals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;">PRELIMINARY NOTE: You may still nurse your annoyance over Post 228. I left it in an awful mess. I am painfully aware of that and it is the reason I did not do much with this blog for some time. I am terribly embarrassed. I simply do not have the technical savvy to help me correct or understand some of the tech stuff this blog requires. Even this paragraph is not the way it is supposed to be. However, I may well have found someone who can correct some things for me and even teach me how to navigate better in this blog. So, I crave your understanding, sympathy and patience. My next action after sending off this blog is to contact that person and see how we can work together without it costing me a fortune, which I cannot afford as a retired missionary.</span></h1>
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... Andrew Scheer said it best:</h1>
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">“When people don’t agree with Justin Trudeau, they get silenced, or they get insulted.”</i></div>
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<b>I am not a politician, but I do pay some attention to politics. When I returned to BC after some 30 years in Nigeria, 15 in the US and a short 2 back in Europe, It occurred to me several times that perhaps I should devote my retirement years to local or provincial politics. However, as I settled into Vancouver's downtown and read the newspapers I soon became disenchanted. So much of it seemed so either downright stupid or ridden with egoism and lust for power. In fact, a friend who served as a BC MLA bowed out after one term. He explained it is disgustingly all about power. Secondly, I discovered that an MLA or an MP is nothing but a small boy/girl to the party leader. Well, I am not cut out to be anyone's small boy, even less a small girl!</b></div>
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<b>I am not particularly favourable to any of Canada's political parties. I may be somewhat conservatively inclined, but definitely not that of the Conservative Party. Nevertheless, I have voted conservative occasionally, but with a heavy heart, for they don't really embody my values. In some ways, I find them traitors. </b></div>
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<b>But a party I have never voted for are the Federal Liberals. They are totally disgusting to me, especially our PM. He may be a nice person and I might enjoy him as my next-door neighbour, but as politician or, God forbid in the future, as a PM? I've never seen a prouder lot in all my life. They actually think the country owes them the power to govern! Actually, they are among the most self-ignorant people I've ever met. They are totally unaware of the basic worldview that rules them. And then to think that there are Christians among them. I do not doubt their faith, but they can be there only out of ignorance. I advise them and everyone else to read Trudeau Sr.'s book on Liberalism and you will see how deeply individualistic liberalism is; no real room for community. It's all about ME; hardly ever about WE.</b></div>
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<b>Well, here I am, throwing every pretense at neutrality over the cliff. Today I am leaving you with some campaign smear about the Trudeau clique from the Conservatives. I usually don't take such campaign stuff seriously. They are paid to smear. But I'm a Christian: I don't smear, though I will tell the truth even if unpleasant. It seems to me that the following Conservative smear is onto something I am encouraging you to read. And feel free to share your opinion with me. </b></div>
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<b>Hear! Hear!</b></div>
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<b>... the Liberals have been ramping up their smear tactics as we get closer to the next election:</b></div>
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<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b>When our Deputy Leader Lisa Raitt questioned Bill Morneau on why their government has failed to live up to their feminist rhetoric<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"> – he called her a "Neanderthal."</span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /> </b></li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b>When our MP Todd Doherty rightfully questioned Justin Trudeau about his government’s ethics<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"> – Trudeau called him disgusting.</span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /> </b></li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b>When Ontario Cabinet Minister Lisa MacLeod was concerned about the pressures and costs that Trudeau’s border crisis put on the province’s immigration system<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"> – Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen called her “un-Canadian.”</span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /> </b></li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b>And just last week, our MP Bob Saroya questioned Bill Blair about the crisis at our border <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">– so Blair accused Conservatives of wanting to put babies in cages.</span></b></li>
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<b>It was unbelievable, Jan / John, even for Liberals.</b></div>
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<em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">You know the Liberals are losing an argument when they start falsely smearing and insulting you.</strong></em></div>
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<b>It’s the ugliest kind of politics and something we continually see out of these Trudeau Liberals.</b></div>
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<b>As soon as the Liberals face any kind of legitimate criticism or questions, their “sunny ways” and “positive politics” come to an end and they head straight to the gutter while trying to look holier than thou.</b></div>
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<b>It’s the same old Liberal tactic of lie, slander, and fearmonger…</b></div>
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<em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b>… while still claiming to be the party of rainbows, sunshine, and lollipops.</b></em></div>
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<b>The Liberals can smear us and the millions of Canadians with real questions all they want.</b></div>
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<b>Canada’s Conservatives will continue to put forward Andrew Scheer’s positive Conservative vision for Canada – where taxes are low, government is limited, opportunity is unlimited, freedom is shared, and people are put before government!</b></div>
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-4064432002790631902018-08-11T15:35:00.000-07:002018-08-11T15:35:02.154-07:00Post 231--Bolan's Gangsters (1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gangsters are still on my mind from the last post. No surprise, for
they are often on my mind, especially when I read the newspapers. My favourite
daily, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Vancouver Sun, </i>has a
columnist who covers the gangster front—Kim Bolan. Though I do not always agree
with her and at one time in an email she called me something close to “idiot”—or so I felt
about it, but I appreciate her writings and fail to read her column only if I
have a bad day and don’t read the paper at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In this crazy world of litigation at the slightest instigation at all, I want to make sure no one accuses me of claiming Bolan own or controls gangs. These gangs are not Bolan's. Titles are meant to draw people's attention and I hope this one does.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kim is not the only author to write on gangs
and not all her articles are in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vancouver
Sun. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, some of the articles linked
here are by reporters instead of Kim the columnist, like Nick Eagland and Matt
Robinson; some are in other papers like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Province.</i> All that sort of information is clearly marked below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But before I go further, I am reminded of the
introductory paragraph at the heading of this blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There I explain that the title of this blog, “My
World—My Neighbour,” is a summary of Jesus’ teaching that everyone in this
world is my neighbour, whom I have to love, care for and about. How can I
square this with the rather rough attitude I am displaying towards gangsters
and their culture of violence and money?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perhaps you’ve already wondered about that. Perhaps you even accuse me
of contradictions or, worse, of hypocrisy. I am bringing this up at this point
to let you know I am aware of this issue. I plan to address it before long. In
the meantime, feel free to write me about it and help me think it through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Returning to Kim, sometimes her column is the only
one I read. My wife, Fran or Frances (she prefers the short version; I, the longer), often cuts out articles for me if she knows I’m
interested and I don’t have the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bolan’s
articles never escape Fran’s scissors. So, they are piling up in a box along
with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But today is their day. I’m
going to treat you to some of Bolan’s brain waves by means of links to some of
her articles. Note well:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">some</i>, not all. And note also that,
unless indicated otherwise, the dates behind the titles are of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vancouver Sun.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As you read, check on the commonalities of these
stories. What do they have in common?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What marks their culture?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
what of their pleas in court?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are
they asking?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is only the beginning. I won’t bore you with
too many data all at once, but I do intend to bring you more of this stuff.
This is serious and only regularly reading these items, story after story, will
it sink into your brain, heart and emotions. Allow it do that to you over time,
and I think you will find your indignation and anger growing as you go till
finally you may demand radical changes in the way these hoodlums are treated by
the justice system. At the end you may well come to ask who are the most
responsible for creating this violence and chaos—the gangsters themselves or
the nation’s justice system. So, you will be thrown a lot of ugly stories as
well as pleas for mercy and questions. You’ve got work coming up!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Kim Bolan, “Police monitor rise of more puppet clubs.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Hells Angels allegedly pulling the strings of
certain less-established bike gangs. July 23, 2018 (p. A3). </span><a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=Kim+Bolan+police+monitor+rise+of+more+puppet+clubs&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=Kim+Bolan++police+monitor+rise+of+more+puppet+clubs&aqs=chrome..69i57.25721j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">https://www.google.ca/searchq=Kim+Bolan+police+monitor+rise+of+more+puppet+clubs&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=Kim+Bolan++police+monitor+rise+of+more+puppet+clubs&aqs=chrome..69i57.25721j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Here you learn a lot
about gang culture, including a hierarchy of clubs with Hells Angels at the
very top. The ones lower down take the brunt of dangerous jobs. The motor
cycling tours may seem like fun, but they are putting themselves AND their
families at risk. There are serious consequences.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Police are monitoring them all carefully,
making sure everyone is safe.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Why the
police should be guarding these dumb wits against themselves is a big puzzle to
me. Why should I pay taxes to protect those fools?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kim Bolan, “Real Scoop: Police concerned about rise
of the HA puppets.”July 22, 2018. <a href="https://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/real-scoop-police-concerned-about-rise-of-the-ha-puppets">https://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/real-scoop-police-concerned-about-rise-of-the-ha-puppets</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">An introduction to
various gangs on the BC coast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Nick Eagland, “Deported gangster arrested in India
for alleged drug production.” June 19, 2018. </span><a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=Kim+bolan+deported+gangster+arrested+in+india+for+alleged&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=Kim+bolan+deported+gangster+arrested+in+india+for+alleged&aqs=chrome..69i57.50560j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">https://www.google.ca/searchq=Kim+bolan+deported+gangster+arrested+in+india+for+alleged&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=Kim+bolan+deported+gangster+arrested+in+india+for+alleged&aqs=chrome..69i57.50560j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Nick Eagland, “”’Wake Up Surrey’ pleads for help in tackling
gang violence.” June 14, 2018 (p. A8).</span><a href="https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/surrey-residents-rise-against-violence-in-wake-of-shooting-deaths-of-two-teens?video_autoplay=true" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/surrey-residents-rise-against-violence-in-wake-of-shooting-deaths-of-two-teens?video_autoplay=true</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kim
Bolan, “Firefighters’ biker club founder poses with Hells Angels.” Public
safety minister calls the alleged association more than a bit disturbing. June
5, 2018 (p. A3). <a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=kim+bolan+firefighters%27+biker+club+founder+posese+with+hells+angels&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=kim+bolan+firefighters%27+biker+club+founder+posese+with+hells+angels&aqs=chrome..69i57.43481j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">https://www.google.ca/searchq=kim+bolan+firefighters%27+biker+club+founder+posese+with+hells+angels&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=kim+bolan+firefighters%27+biker+club+founder+posese+with+hells+angels&aqs=chrome..69i57.43481j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The concern here is the penetration of gangsters
into government agencies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kim Bolan, “Feds appeal
immigration order freeing gunman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ministry objects to board decision to release gangster pending
deportation.” April 26, 2018.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=kim+bolan+feds+appear+immigration+order+freeing+gunman&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=kim+bolan+feds+appear+immigration+order+freeing+gunman&aqs=chrome..69i57.19521j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">https://www.google.ca/searchq=kim+bolan+feds+appear+immigration+order+freeing+gunman&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=kim+bolan+feds+appear+immigration+order+freeing+gunman&aqs=chrome..69i57.19521j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kim Bolan, “Hells Angels civil forfeiture trial
begins in BC Supreme Court.” April 24, 2018 (p. A5).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=kim+bolan+hells+angels+civil+forfeiture+trial+begins&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=kim+bolan+hells+angels+civil+forfeiture+trial+begins&aqs=chrome..69i57.81737j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">https://www.google.ca/searchq=kim+bolan+hells+angels+civil+forfeiture+trial+begins&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=kim+bolan+hells+angels+civil+forfeiture+trial+begins&aqs=chrome..69i57.81737j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kim Bolan,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Guilty
pleas expected in Bacon murder. Three men charged in 2011 gang shooting in front
of Kelowna hotel reach plea bargain on lesser charges.” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Province</i>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>April 22, 2018
(p. 4). <a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=kim+bolan+guilty+please+expected+in+Bacon+case&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=kim+bolan+guilty+please+expected+in+Bacon+case&aqs=chrome..69i57.24648j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">https://www.google.ca/searchq=kim+bolan+guilty+please+expected+in+Bacon+case&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=kim+bolan+guilty+please+expected+in+Bacon+case&aqs=chrome..69i57.24648j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kim Bolan, “UN gang associate released
over border agency’s objections.” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Province, </i>April 22, 2018 (p. 4).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=kim+bolan+UN+gang+associate+released+over+border&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=kim+bolan+UN+gang+associate+released+over+border&aqs=chrome..69i57.25889j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">https://www.google.ca/searchq=kim+bolan+UN+gang+associate+released+over+border&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=kim+bolan+UN+gang+associate+released+over+border&aqs=chrome..69i57.25889j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kim Bolan, “Guilty pleas on lesser charges expected
in Bacon murder case.” April 21, 2018 (p. A4). <a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=Kim+Bolan%2C+%E2%80%9CGuilty+pleas+on+lesser+charges+expected+in+Bacon+murder+case&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=Kim+Bolan%2C+%E2%80%9CGuilty+pleas+on+lesser+charges+expected+in+Bacon+murder+case&aqs=chrome..69i57.83520j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">https://www.google.ca/searchq=Kim+Bolan%2C+%E2%80%9CGuilty+pleas+on+lesser+charges+expected+in+Bacon+murder+case&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=Kim+Bolan%2C+%E2%80%9CGuilty+pleas+on+lesser+charges+expected+in+Bacon+murder+case&aqs=chrome..69i57.83520j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kim Bolan,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Gang
Associate to be released as he awaits deportation to Iraq.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>April 21, 2018 (p. A6).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=kim+bolan+gang+associate+to+be+released+as+he+awaits&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=kim+bolan++gang+associate+to+be+released+as+he+awaits&aqs=chrome..69i57.27927j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">https://www.google.ca/searchq=kim+bolan+gang+associate+to+be+released+as+he+awaits&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=kim+bolan++gang+associate+to+be+released+as+he+awaits&aqs=chrome..69i57.27927j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-87320351469964273432018-08-08T11:34:00.000-07:002018-08-08T11:45:50.573-07:00Post 230--Away with Gangsters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I've written about gangsters before. I was almost going to write that it's a topic that fascinates me, but that would not be true. It's a topic--no, it's<i> not</i> a topic or a subject; it's a person or a group of persons, mostly male, if I may still use that term! And it's hardly a fascinating person or group. I really want to say that a gangster or a group of them are probably among the most despicable of all human beings. That's how I feel, deep down in my heart.<br />
<br />
Now I know a Christian is not to despise anyone. Heh, God so loves the world...! And if <i>He</i> can love a world that has offended Him time and again, 24 X 7 over the centuries and millennia, perhaps even over billions of years, who am I to despise people who really have hardly affected me? I read about them in the papers and I cut out many articles to file away for occasions like this one, when I write about them. No, I really need to change my attitude radically and seek forgiveness. Learn to love them even, perhaps? <br />
<br />
You may remember that in the previous post I treated you to an article I translated from my favourite Dutch daily, <i>Trouw</i>. It told the story how a Dutch court has criminalized the most vicious of Dutch gangs, the Hell's Angels. Not sure I used the right word: "criminalized." Lawyers, like us theologians, have a way with words and distinctions that are hard to follow for others. Perhaps the word "ban" would be more correct, though I would not know the difference. At any rate, both mean something like "away with them."<br />
<br />
Now I do not regret their banning, for this is not banning <i>persons</i> from life, but their organization and their way of life or, rather, their way of death. If you were to spend a few hours reading my newspaper cuttings about gangsters, I don't see how you could defend them or how you could tolerate their culture, their way of life and their organizations. The Dutch have declared them not wanted and illegal. They have decided there no longer is place for them in Dutch society.<br />
<br />
Here in Canada? We put a protective shield around them. We call it "human rights." Human rights allegedly protect every body in Canada--yes,<i> allegedly</i>. In reality, they protect criminals with their violent behaviour more than the ordinary law-abiding citizen. For the latter, human rights seem more like a prison that prevent us from protecting ourselves and each other. Gangsters do not care about anyone's rights; they step on them; they shoot and kill without genuine provocation. They spread terror left and right, but the authorities protect them with their gentrified legal system. They even spend unlimited time and money to find out who killed one of them.<br />
<br />
Why on earth should society be so concerned and so protective about gangsters, people who have voluntarily chosen a most dangerous life style? When a proven gangster has been killed, why not just bury the guy and move on? That's one less to worry about. Now the police can spend time protecting law-abiding citizens.<br />
<br />
In my mind, people who chose violence should lose their human rights. Finish. Why should we protect them from their own choices? So, I appreciate their criminalization in the Netherlands. It's an important step forward. But I recommend the next step also: Deny them their human rights. Quit protecting them while the ordinary citizens live in fear or just get shot.<br />
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Canada, when will you close the door to your prison of false human rights? You have criminalized terrorists. What's the difference between those, apart from their motivation? <br />
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==========<br />
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PS--I was planning to copy one of the many newspaper cuttings I have on the subject of gangsters. However, you will have noticed irregularities in the fonts used in these posts. I have not been able to overcome that problem; I'm just not a techie. However, a techie friend has just promised to help me fix the problem. So, I resist the temptation to include that cutting. Hopefully he will be able to help me out this evening. Once that is done, I may well succumb to the temptation of listing quite a number of such articles by their web access. We'll see what happens--but he first has to help me with the immediate past posts. <br />
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-19546743916997092452018-06-18T19:19:00.001-07:002018-07-28T10:26:12.934-07:00Post 229--Paradise: Banning Gangs!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Good morning on a fine sunny Saturday morning in Vancouver. Yes, after an absence of a whole month, most of it in California with Kevin, our son and his family there. From sunshine, through sunshine, back into Vancouver's sunshine. Sunshine everywhere. Plus--a heatwave almost everywhere along I-5, the route we took back with our RV. And believe me, as much as my wife, Fran, and I enjoyed the visit and the ride through all that beautiful West Coast country, there's no place like home.<br />
<br />
Today our focus is on criminal motorcycle gangs in my birth country, the Netherlands. Originally, the article was published in Dutch in the Christian newspaper <i>Trouw </i>of June 18, 2018.<i> </i>The author is Dristel van Teffelen. I present you with this article because, though there are differences between Canada and NL, in this range of concerns the similarities are much the same. Here, then the article. Read it carefully and give it some thought. I will try to make my own comments about it a couple of posts from now. Have a good read.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Prohibiting
Satudarah Means a New Success for the Ministry of Justice in Its Handling of
Criminal Motorcyle Gangs<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Dristel
van Teeffelen<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Trouw<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>June 18<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The motorclub Satudarah is no more.
The Society was dissolved after the court in The Hague pronounced a prohibition
this morning. For the Ministry of Justice this signals a new and important
victory in its handling of criminal motorcycle gangs, even though not all
problem are solved with this step.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">That the judge should resort to a
prohibition was not step to be taken for granted. The right of association is
in the constitution and may be restricted only when there are weighty reasons.
In the case of Satudarah, a motorclub that exists since 1990, the court
recognized enough reasons.The list of criminal behaviours of its members is so
long and the culture of the association so violent, that Satudara endangers the
public order and is even capable of destabilizing society, the judge concluded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The society uses violence against
its own members who want to disassociate themselves, but also against other
citizens. Even board members of other clubs get beat up after members of
Satudarah demand that their club join Satudarah. It is striking that many
victims do not dare to report this violence for fear of retaliation.
Furthermore, the club resists the police actively and the board justifies injustice and even stimulates it. All in all, this is enough to conclude that
this society is a genuine attack on the security of the society, according to
the judge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Ministry opted for the avenue of civil rights to achieve a
prohibition, just as it did before with another motorclub, the Bandidos. In
2009, an attempt to ban a branch of the Hells Angels ran stuck at the High
Court. That judge concluded that the behavior of individual members cannot be
attributed to the society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Ministry
once again aimed its arrows at the Hells Angels, this time on the entire
organization and via a civil rights procedure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">It is questionable whether the prohibition strategy will
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Satudarah itself argued with the
judge that a ban would be useless, because the members could easily continue
under a different name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The judge
acknowledged this fact. Nevertheless, a ban on Satudarah in any case means that
everything associated with the society, like dress, name, logo and public
expression, comes to an end. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
addition, the national LIEC, an organization that is dedicated to combat the
undermining criminality, affirms that a firm approach on the part of the Government
to criminal motor clubs has delivered fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For example, the growth in members slowed down in 2017.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Banning of the entire society is but one of the ways by which
the Government can put the clamps on criminal motorclubs. For example, in 2017,
members of the clubs were imprisoned for committing punishable acts in
organized contexts. In addition, many local governments during that year closed
eighteen club houses of societies that were preoccupied with criminality and
violence more than with motorcycle touring.</span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">That ban also holds for “chapters” and support
clubs associated with them.</span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 15.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Read also (if you can
read Dutch!):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Public Ministry: “Time for a ban on Hells
Angels in the Netherlands.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For the oldest Dutch
motorclub, the Hells Angels, there is no more place in the society, according
to the Public Ministry. The Ministry of Justice has asked the judge for a ban.
The club is allegedly a danger to the public order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Judge’s Ruling Paralyzes Motorclub Bandidos.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There is no place left in The Netherlands for
Bandidos. The society can no longer operate a bank account or rent a clubhouse,
while all assets must be handed over. A Government appointee is to wind up the
club’s finances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-72691115468255451642018-06-10T07:01:00.000-07:002018-06-10T07:01:43.528-07:00Post 228--Quebec Secular Fundamentalism<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
THIS POST IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. COME BACK A FEW DAYS FROM NOW. RIGHT NOW I AM WORKING ON POST 227 WHICH IS ALSO STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION. I WILL GET TO THEM OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS--I HOPE! <br />
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<h1 class="entry-title" itemprop="headline" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: PostSansMedium, sans-serif; font-size: 54px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 58px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Graeme Hamilton: A secular fundamentalism has taken root in Quebec</h1>
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Graeme Hamilton National Post March 20, 2018</div>
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Listening to politicians, it can feel as if Quebec is under assault from religious fundamentalists. But they have no quarrel with a secular fundamentalism that has taken root in the province</h2>
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MONTREAL — Listening to politicians, it can feel as if Quebec is under assault from religious fundamentalists. The opposition Parti Québécois wants an observer to report annually to the National Assembly on “manifestations of religious fundamentalism.” The Liberal government has a working group to combat radicalism. The Coalition Avenir Québec proposes banning preaching that runs counter to Quebec values.</div>
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But those same legislators have no quarrel with a secular fundamentalism that has taken root in the province at the expense of religious rights. On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Canada sent a message to Quebec that its state-sanctioned secularism can go too far.</div>
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In a ruling affirming the right of Montreal’s Loyola High School, a private Catholic boys school, to teach its own version of a provincially mandated course on ethics and religion, the court offered a timely reminder to politicians.</div>
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“The pursuit of secular values means respecting the right to hold and manifest different religious beliefs,” Justice Rosalie Abella wrote for the majority. “A secular state respects religious differences, it does not seek to extinguish them.”</div>
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The pursuit of secular values means respecting the right to hold and manifest different religious beliefs</blockquote>
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The ruling specifically applies to a small number of private religious schools in Quebec, but it resonates more widely at a time when governments contend with questions involving religious rights. Recently in Quebec, mosques have run up against obstacles over fears of religious extremism, and a Muslim woman was told she could not appear before a Quebec Court wearing her hijab. The federal government has taken a stand against the face-covering niqab, saying <nobr style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit;"><a class="pxInta" href="http://nationalpost.com/opinion/graeme-hamilton-religion-secularism#" id="PXLINK_0_0_0" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(254, 210, 50); border-image: initial !important; border-left: 0px !important; border-right: 0px !important; border-top: 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">women</a></nobr> cannot wear the garments during citizenship ceremonies.</div>
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Interference with a religious group’s beliefs or practices is justified only if they “conflict with or harm overriding public interests,” Justice Abella wrote.</div>
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In the Loyola case, the court found that there was no such conflict or harm. The dispute stemmed from Quebec’s 2008 introduction of a course called Ethics and Religious Culture (ERC), which begins in primary school and is continued during four of the five years of high school.</div>
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The ERC program resulted from the end of denominational school boards in Quebec and reflected a noble goal of inculcating “in all students openness to diversity and respect for others,” as the court put it. Students would be taught about world religions and ethical questions from an impartial perspective. That is fine and indeed appropriate for public schools but hugely problematic for Loyola, which has been run by Jesuits since its founding in the 1840s and is attended mostly by children from Catholic families.</div>
<figure class="wp-caption post-img size_this_image_test aligncenter" id="attachment_" itemid="photo url" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 40px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;"><img src="https://nationalpostcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/scoc_religious_freedom_20150319_37072779.jpg?w=620&quality=60&strip=all" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto !important; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 551px;" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="img-caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">CP/Graham Hughes</span></figcaption></figure><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The instructions from the Education Department were that Loyola would not be allowed to teach any part of the ERC program — even Catholicism — from a Catholic point of view. All religions would be on an equal footing. “In an effort to try to be pluralistic, it essentially won’t take a stand,” school principal Paul Donovan lamented when the course was introduced.</div>
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Thursday’s ruling states that Quebec’s refusal to allow Loyola to teach an equivalent course from a Catholic perspective has a “serious impact on religious freedom.” And there is an implication that the Education Department’s hard-nosed approach was born out of a suspicion of religious belief.</div>
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“The Minister’s decision suggests that engagement with an individual’s own religion on his or her own terms can simply be presumed to impair respect for others,” Justice Abella wrote.</div>
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All seven judges who heard the case agreed that Loyola should be allowed to teach a version of the course that reflects its mission as a Catholic school, but there was a difference over how far it could diverge from the official curriculum.</div>
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In a partially concurring opinion that argued for less restriction on Loyola, Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin and Justice Michael Moldaver wrote that it is enough for Loyola teachers to treat other religious viewpoints with respect; it does not have to treat them as equally legitimate.</div>
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“Indeed, presenting fundamentally incompatible religious doctrines as equally legitimate and equally credible could imply that both are equally false,” they wrote. “Surely this cannot be a perspective that a religious school can be compelled to adopt.”</div>
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John Zucchi, whose son was a student at Loyola when the ERC program was introduced and who was a plaintiff in the initial court case, said Thursday’s ruling provides crucial guidance. “This is helping the country to come to what I would call a sane form of secularism,” he said. “We don’t need to shut down one voice in the name of diversity and pluralism, but rather diversity and pluralism mean that all perspectives can be heard and be out in the public square.”</div>
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http://nationalpost.com/opinion/graeme-hamilton-religion-secularism<br />
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-34340972885659363522018-06-10T06:37:00.000-07:002018-06-20T19:36:49.025-07:00Post 227--Bureaucrats to Assess "Sincere Beliefs"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The powers that be in Canada, consider it a secular country. Whether that describes the majority of Canadians is something that is assumed, but may not be true. Certainly, there are millions of Canadians who do not consider themselves secular, with me being one of them. But even among those who do not consider themselves secular, there are many who have been so deeply influenced by it that in fact they <i>are</i> secular, including many Christians, in the sense that they support many secular causes. Just like African Christians are still influenced by African Traditional Religion (ATR), so many Canadian Christians are profoundly influenced by secularism. In Africa, ATR is in the air and people as it were "breathe" it; in Canada the same with secularism.<br />
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When the government insists on neutrality of religion, it defines neutrality in a secular way--which means it is not neutral. To make it worse, our high government officials at every level of government, are highly educated people in a secular perspective, but in religion they are at the level of Religion 101. They are at best at Grade 1 level in religion. So, people with Ph.D.'s, highly educated, think their insights in religion are at the same level as their knowledge of their subject of graduation. In fact, their knowledge does not go beyond Grade 1--which means they are bound to get it wrong. Highly sophisticated officials make Grade 1 decisions about religion and often sound stupid and clumsy., all the way to the top, hardly anyone excluded.<br />
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Now, it is with that scenario that mid-level Quebec officials are to make decisions about sincerely held religious beliefs and on that decision decide other things for citizens. But they do so at a Grade 1 level! How can you trust that situation, those decisions or those officials? <br />
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Okay, now go read the rest of this post and then see what you think of the issue. Can you really have confidence in the decisions to be made? <br />
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Greame Hamilton recently published an article in the <i>National Post</i> of June 6, 2018, that appeared also in some other newspapers, including the <i>Vancouver Sun</i> of the same date. The <i>Sun </i> title of the piece is "Quebec to assess 'sincere beliefs.'"<br />
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Beginning next month, at least one employee in every Quebec government body, municipality, transit agency, school board, university, daycare and hospital will need a new skill: judging the sincerity of religious beliefs.</div>
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Across the province, hundreds of “accommodation officers” are getting crash courses on whether to accept or reject requests for accommodations made on religious grounds, such as meals respecting dietary restrictions or time off for religious holidays.</div>
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In recently published guidelines, the provincial government says the officers will apply a number of criteria established over time thorough jurisprudence, including whether the request for a religious accommodation stems from a “sincerely held belief.”</div>
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<figure class="wp-caption post-img size_this_image_test aligncenter" id="attachment_" itemid="photo url" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: none; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 40px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><img src="https://nationalpostcom.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/quebec.jpg?w=640&quality=60&strip=all" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto !important; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 551px;" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="img-caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Quebec women attend a protest in 2010</span> <span class="img-author" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Allen McInnis/The Gazette</span></figcaption></figure><br />
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This month’s training blitz is the final chapter in enacting Bill 62, the Liberal government’s controversial legislation that it hoped would settle a decade-old debate over the place of religion in Quebec’s public sphere.</div>
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But there is no sign the law has settled anything. Its most controversial provision, prohibiting people from giving or receiving public services with such face-covering religious garments as the niqab and burka, has been suspended pending a court challenge.</div>
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And the entire law could be short-lived, as the front-running Coalition Avenir Québec has promised to “tear it up” if elected in the Oct. 1 provincial election.</div>
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In comments last month about the new guidelines on religious accommodations, Justice Minister Stéphanie Vallée did little to dispel the impression that the law is a solution in search of a problem. “There is no invasion of requests for religious accommodation, as some would have you believe,” Vallée told a legislature committee May 16.</div>
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In fact, less than five per cent of the 582 complaints of rejected accommodations received by the provincial human rights commission in the last five years alleged religious discrimination. The large majority — 90 per cent — related to physical disabilities.</div>
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The new guidelines for dealing with requests for religious accommodations take effect July 1. It is expected that existing employees will take on the work.</div>
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<figure class="wp-caption post-img size_this_image_test aligncenter" id="attachment_" itemid="photo url" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: none; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 40px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><img src="https://nationalpostcom.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/que_religious_neutrality_20171024.jpg?w=640&quality=60&strip=all" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto !important; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 551px;" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="img-caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Quebec Justice Minister Stephanie Vallee provides further details about how the government’s controversial Bill 62 will be implemented at the legislature in Quebec City Tuesday, October 24, 2017.</span> <span class="img-author" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot</span></figcaption></figure><br />
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The government has published a 15-page guide aimed at clarifying the process, but its instructions are vague. “A request may be reasonable in a large organization, but unreasonable in a small one,” the guide says. “The analysis is carried out on a case-by-case basis. It is important to be innovative and creative to find a solution acceptable to all.”</div>
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To be approved, an accommodation must address a situation of discrimination under the provincial Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, it must be based on sincere religious beliefs, it must be consistent with the principles of equality of the sexes and state religious neutrality, and it must not cause undue hardship for the government agency concerned.</div>
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Isabelle Marier St-Onge, an aide to Vallée, said it was impossible to offer a template for specific accommodation requests. She gave the example of two <nobr style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit;"><a class="pxInta" href="http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/quebec-begins-training-accommodation-officers-to-assess-religious-sincerity#" id="PXLINK_0_0_0" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(254, 210, 50); border-image: initial !important; border-left: 0px !important; border-right: 0px !important; border-top: 0px !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">women</a></nobr> police officers seeking to wear the Muslim headscarf known as the hijab, one in Montreal and one in Quebec City. The one in Montreal might be prepared to wear a sports-type hijab posing no safety risk, while the one in Quebec City might insist on a more free-flowing garment that would pose a danger.</div>
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“The Montreal request could be accepted and the Quebec City one refused,” Marier St-Onge said.</div>
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<figure class="wp-caption post-img size_this_image_test aligncenter" id="attachment_" itemid="photo url" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; float: none; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 40px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"><img src="https://nationalpostcom.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/que_muslim_lawsuit20171107.jpg?w=640&quality=60&strip=all" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto !important; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 551px;" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="background: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="img-caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Marie-Michelle Lacoste, who now goes by Warda Naili after converting to Islam, left, and her lawyer Catherine McKenzie speak to the media at a news conference Tuesday, November 7, 2017 in Montreal.</span> <span class="img-author" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz</span></figcaption></figure><br />
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While the safety issue in her example makes an accommodation officer’s job relatively easy, things will undoubtedly become trickier when trying to establish whether a request is based on a sincerely held belief.</div>
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The guidance from the government states: “The religious belief that is asserted must be in good faith, neither fictitious nor capricious, and must not be an artifice. It is not necessary for that practice or belief to be based on a religious precept recognized by established religious authorities or shared by a majority of believers.”</div>
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Supreme Court judges have wrestled with these questions; now it will fall to mid-level bureaucrats.</div>
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Nathalie Roy, secularism critic for the Coalition party, said the government should have provided more specific guidance, drawing on previous cases adjudicated by the rights commission. “I worry that the door is being swung wide open to subjectivity in these decisions,” she told the legislature committee.</div>
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Her party, like the opposition Parti Québécois, wants stricter rules barring religious symbols for all state employees in a position of authority, from police officers to teachers. “For us, a school is not a church . . . and a police car is not a place of worship either,” Roy said.</div>
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Vallée accuses the opposition parties of seizing on the secularism issue to sow division.</div>
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“This question of identity is polarizing . . . and certain political parties will no doubt try to exploit it in the coming months,” she said at the committee hearing.</div>
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<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">• Email: <a href="mailto:ghamilton@nationalpost.com" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(254, 210, 50); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 2px; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">ghamilton@nationalpost.com</a> | Twitter: </em></div>
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http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/quebec-begins-training-accommodation-officers-to-assess-religious-sincerity<br />
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-28643853028263422382018-05-31T12:23:00.001-07:002018-05-31T12:23:48.090-07:00Post 226--What's in a Name?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There's just a short item in one of Vancouver's "street newspapers," the newest one actually, <i>Star Metro Vancouver</i> (May 22, 2018), the author of which is Cherise Saucharan. "Cherise"--ah, people concoct such interesting names these days, but usually names without historical foundation.<br />
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Remember that in the previous post I complained that a major characteristics of liberalism is disdain for the past and for traditions? This has also carried over into the naming of children. My first name is that of my paternal grandfather, since I am the first son in my family. My middle name is "Harm," after my father's oldest brother. And so it went in my tradition. But liberals don't like tradition and so they seldom name their children after senior family members; they just concoct any name they like, perhaps an existing name or something they concoct themselves. <br />
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Liberalism is a powerful ideology that has even spilled over onto people who would be shocked to be called liberal. My wife and I, staunch non-liberals as we are, fell for that when naming our children. The first names of the first two were just shaken out of our sleeves and had no historical connection to our extended family. Their names arperfectly fine, but they are the product of liberal spill over. They are Cynthia and Kevin respectively, with Kevin being the oldest. In this post, I follow tradition: Ladies first!<br />
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But we did not fall for that liberal tradition altogether. Our daughter's middle name is a combination of both of her grandmothers. Sadly, neither grandmother accepted that name as legitimately named after them. The middle name of our first son is that of my youngest brother, Dick. Dick is the youngest of ten siblings and the only born Canadian in my birth family. We decided to honour him through our first son, for, we reasoned, being the last of ten, no one will name any of their children after him. For years, Dick did not believe our explanation, but after we repeated it enough over the decades, I believe he's come around and accepts it--with some degree of pleasure, I believe.<br />
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But that son has a third name or, if you prefer, a second middle name: Samu'ila. Though born in the USA, it was during our Nigeria missionary years. We had been married seven years before his arrival and so we called him Samu'ila, which is the Hausa version of Samuel, whose birth story you find in the Old Testament at I Samuel 1. That Samuel was also the end product of many years of agonizing prayer. Of course, it wasn't <i>only</i> prayer that brought him into this world--just thought you should understand! Hausa is a major West African language that we spoke during our 30 years there and still speak. <br />
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By the time our youngest son came around, we had come around as well--from that liberal spill over, that is. We named him after our two grandfathers. We retained the original Dutch version of my father's name Wiebe and that became his our son's first name, of which he has always been proud and even used it as a successful ploy, together with his Nigerian dress, during his election campaign for college student council. His maternal grandfather's name was a Frisian one difficult to pronounce for non-Frisians. After the family's immigration to the States, he took the name "Charles,"probably the closest English equivalent, but if we used that for his middle name, his initials would be "W. C." Those who know gentrified English, will realize that this would make him a butt of jokes: "water closet"-- in other words, "toilet!" So we turned to "Karl" instead.<br />
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It is of some family interest and pride that Grandfather's complete name is Prins Charles, a name you've heard before, I'm sure. The family is kind of proud of that connection to Prince Charles, but regret that the similarity stops there! They would have liked an invitation to the latest wedding!<br />
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If you are an analytical reader, you may have noticed I have described liberals both as anti-tradition and traditional at the same time, something that only<i> looks</i> like a contradiction. Traditional liberals tend to be against long established traditions--and <i>that</i> is<i> their</i> tradition. Yes, they have their own traditions, the ones they themselves created over a period of time that is long enough to have created new traditions. You might say they are non-traditional traditionalists. This is another good topic for another day, soon. <br />
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Did I ever get side tracked today. I was going to talk about Cherise's article and never got to it. Well, to entice you to look for it within a few days, here's what would have been today's title: "My Body a Distraction?"</div>
Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-47929260954915807782018-05-24T05:59:00.000-07:002018-05-24T06:02:19.228-07:00Post 225--Centennial of (Some) Women's Suffrage in Canada<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This blog contains more critique of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau than praise, something I am not proud of and does not make me happy. I would much rather have reasons for praise than critique. I would much rather be happy with my PM than unhappy. But as a Christian, I cannot not see myself happy with a Liberal government, for the essence of liberalism is to downgrade, if not actually despise and have contempt for established age-old traditions, many of which belong to the order of creation.<br />
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The last statement in the above paragraph probably sounds like I'm a dyed-in-the-wool kind of conservative. I'm not! Definitely not! But that's for another post. Actually, my deepest attitudes and theories are embedded in this entire blog. If you've been reading my previous 224 posts, you will have grasped at least something of my perspective--neither liberal nor conservative but Reformed Christian. As I said, for another post.<br />
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But today I agree with and support our PM, something that gives me joy. Again, it is not 100%, but when you celebrate something, you don't major in qualifications; you just joyfully celebrate. And that's what I'm doing today. And I invite you to join the PM and little me.<br />
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You may remember that one of the first actions of our PM was to appoint a Cabinet marked by gender parity as well as racial diversity. And, you may remember, I expressed praise and gratitude for that move. Unfortunately.... No, no, I don't go there today. Just celebrate! That step by the PM was a huge step forward in the process of empowering women in our country. It wasn't all women at that time, something the PM acknowledges below, but it<i> was</i> a huge and significant step forward in the dynamics of developing history. Please remember my "Tomato Post" no. 224. Tomato history is an interesting <i>example</i> of history developing forward and opening up towards richer variety and differentiation; The suffrage issue is not merely an example but actually a huge step towards the liberation of 50% of Canada's population. It significantly pushed history forward and opened it up.<br />
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Today, we join the PM in celebrating the centennial of that first huge step of women suffrage. Please read his statement below and celebrate. <br />
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Statement by the Prime Minister on the 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote in federal elections</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , "verdana" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-size: 12px;">May 24, 2018</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , "verdana" , sans-serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-size: 12px;">Ottawa, Ontario</span><br />
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The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote in federal elections:</div>
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“One hundred years ago, women in Canada gained the right to vote in federal elections for the first time. Today, we recognize the countless women who have transformed politics in Canada and shaped a better country for all of us.</div>
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“This decision was a turning point for gender equality and a victory for Canadian democracy. When more voices are heard, we shape laws that reflect who we are and decisions that improve the lives of Canadians. Social activists and feminists worked hard to win the right to vote. Our democracy is stronger because of their commitment to their convictions, and their vision for a more just future.</div>
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“While this anniversary represents an important milestone in the quest for equal rights in Canada, not all women benefitted from this progress. Indigenous women, Asian women, and others were denied the right to vote. These exclusions remind us that progress does not always happen equally, and we must do more to make sure everyone’s rights are respected, promoted, and valued.</div>
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“Canada continues to work hard to address the obstacles women and girls face. Here at home, we are taking steps to promote women’s participation in the workforce, support women’s leadership, reduce the gender wage gap, and fight gender-based violence. In 2018, Canada put gender equality at the core of the federal budget, and made empowering women and girls a key theme for our G7 presidency. Thanks to measures like our Feminist International Assistance Policy, we are working to empower women and girls and advance gender equality around the world.</div>
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“The 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote in federal elections reminds us that we are stronger when everyone, no matter their gender identity, can participate freely, fully, and equally in our democracy. A century later, women’s leadership continues to push Canada forward. Today, let’s celebrate the achievements of the many women who have shaped our country. Let’s honour their legacy, push for justice and equality, and make sure all voices can be heard.”</div>
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PMO Media Relations: <a href="mailto:media@pmo-cpm.gc.ca" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">media@pmo-cpm.gc.ca</a><br />
This document is also available at <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpm.gc.ca&data=02%7C01%7C%7C4e0dad8bf4c842eaad2a08d5c16f952b%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636627607338282299&sdata=vW3f6oAblrcn6z8LTck7qGDfk%2FnCMVNgLL3KycBtPdY%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://pm.gc.ca" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="xb8aQqoXVyu1uR/+GCMnOY1s0CkH9XKx0FDvpW8vu9vP3gUAQ/OC17ASkgGN1UhWmsSDnEfFSvSFechBsJ6E9u3ja1RtyAZIrs//3A0DQmstaz+itFYxRMH+qqJA2QThi7+dexdulbqeW5tpYGZHKOxpvM+OjtoPFxg+fjaigzo=" target="_blank">https://pm.gc.ca</a></div>
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-70013991794967315372018-05-22T14:50:00.000-07:002018-05-22T14:50:18.460-07:00Post 224--Tomatoes: Opening up of History<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have occasionally used the word "Reformational" or "Reformational Philosophy," a perspective to which I adhere. It is also known by other names like "Neo-Calvinism" or "Kuyperianism" and, more recently, "Transformationalism." These names all have their reasons in history and are valid. However, "transformationalism" seems to be taking over as the most popular right now. Fine. I have no problem with it. In fact, my pastor, Trevor Vander Veen of the Vancouver Christian Reformed Church has outrightly adopted it as his favourite term in his recent doctoral dissertation. I go along with him, except that I have used "Reformational" or some derivative for long in all my writings and publications, so that I will stick to that one, though I have come to prefer "transformationalism." Bear with me and remember that, please, in subsequent posts. The "scientific" formula from now on in this blog is:<br />
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Reformationalism=Transformationalism<br />
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I use "Reformational" or "Reformationalism;" you think "Transformational" or "Transformationalism." Agreed?<br />
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The Reformational perspective is big on the idea of the dynamic opening up of history as central to its philosophy of history. Today, as you may have suspected from the title of this post, I will refer to the history of the "humble" tomato as an example of this opening up process. Brian Minter of Chilliwack BC is one of the main gardeners in our province. Just check out many of his online articles. In this post, I refer you to his article in the Vancouver Sun of May 12, 2018, (p. C2). See the website at the bottom of this article if you want to read it in its entirety. He wrote the history of the acceptance of the tomato among the nations and cultures of this world.<br />
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As popular as the tomato is today, probably in every nation where it can grow, that has not always been the case. Minter writes that it "suffered from bad PR for 300 years." Its early history may be a bit foggy: among the people of the Andean Mountains in South America, "they may have been eaten by the local indigenous peoples," but there is no evidence they cultivated it. Animals also ate them and may have been responsible for its spread. The Aztecs were the first to cultivate them. In 1520, Hernan Cortes saw the tomato in a local market, took it home to Spain, from where it spread elsewhere. Early "experts" declared it dangerous and thought it provokes "loathing and vomiting."<br />
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From Europe it was carried back to the Americas, where the Puritans thought it looked "too sensuous" and must be evil. However, an American world traveler Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson brought home a collection of various seeds and sought to dispel the notion they were dangerously poisonous. He announced he would publicly eat a whole basket full of them in Salem, NJ. His physician predicted dire health consequences such as "foam and froth at the mouth,... double over with appendicitis,...and expose himself to brain fever." Enough to scare anyone away, I should think.<br />
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He survived the ordeal and gave the tomato a new start. By 1835 it had become a staple in the American diet. Sorry, Minter lives in BC, but I do not know his history. Whatever, it is a pity he ignores the Canadian history of the tomato. Well, I have complained about that issue before and do not know just how to avoid that annoyance without spending a lot of extra time on these blogs, which I do not have. At least, Minter lives and writes in Canada, BC even. Today, Canadians as well as their American cousins, grow "hundreds of varieties."<br />
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Since I am generally fascinated by food (probably too much!), I find this a very interesting story. Something so common and yet such a convoluted history. As a half-baked Reformational philosopher, I.... No, wait, I am not a philosopher, not even a half-baked one; I am an adherent, a consumer of philosophy, a practitioner. This is a great example of the opening up of the historical process from near nothing to hundreds of varieties, from the almost unknown to the highest refinement and popularity. <br />
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So, thanks, Mr. Minter, for your hard work of gardening and for helping people enjoy not only the fruit of your research, but even the tomato itself. A great story. I encourage you, readers, to read his whole story at < <b><u> http://vancouversun.com/homes/gardening/brian-minter-tomatoes-are-making-up-for-lost-time </u></b>>, and then look him up for more of his stories on the internet. An interesting example of the opening up of history--and a delight to eat!<br />
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-21047611961950966162018-05-11T10:20:00.001-07:002018-05-11T10:20:15.693-07:00Post 223--Gentleman Law vs Foreign Thugs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the topics on which I collect data, especially newspapers, and even more especially, <i>The Vancouver Sun</i>. One of the columnists I follow on this topic in that paper is Kim Bolan. She does a great job of reporting on all the shenanigans of criminals, especially gangsters. Did I use the term "shenanigans?" That's way to mild a word. These guys are thugs, murderers, professional murderers. For them human life has no meaning or value. Money, power, lifestyle and girls are more important to them than anything else. If someone stands in their way along one of these lines, they do not hesitate to kill. Either they do the killing themselves or they'll pay someone to do it for them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now it's bad enough to have local boys engage in all this, people born in the country, but I consider it even more intolerable for immigrants or refugees turn into criminals and gangsters. I am in no way suggesting that there is a disproportionate number of that scum among criminals and gangsters; that they harbour more than their share of those pigs. I am an immigrant myself and I know that the vast majority of us are industrious citizens that are eager to contribute to Canadian society. But there are some and I have no use for them. In fact, I promote the denial of human rights and protection to them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I once wrote to Kim Bolan that all members of gangs should be considered free from the law's protection. They have chosen a life of violence and the police and other security bodies are spending fortunes in terms of time, resources and money on these idiot. In the meantime, the killing goes, not infrequently even victimizing innocent people who are in the wrong place at the wrong time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kim seemed to be horrified at this barbaric proposals. Absolutely, we don't want to go there, she "yelled" at me in writing. I suggested this once to a retired policeman who similarly reacted very negatively. Perhaps he was trying to protect the interest of the police establishment, for I saw no other good reason for his rejection of the proposal. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, I am going to leave you with a link to the latest article from Kim to show you how confused the various government entities are with regard to these barbarians. It's ridiculous, nothing short of it. They obviously have no clear ideas or, perhaps, courage, when it comes to dealing with that underworld. In addition they are hampered by a lot of laws that tend to be contradictory or, at the very least confusing. Gentlemen laws cannot cope with thugs without moral or conscience. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The title of her piece is "Federal court stays order releasing gangster gunman." The link is:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=kim+bolan+federal+court+stays+order+releasing+gangster+gunman&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=kim+bolan++federal+court+stays+order+releasing+gangster+gunman&aqs=chrome..69i57.20407j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">https://www.google.ca/search?q=kim+bolan+federal+court+stays+order+releasing+gangster+gunman&rlz=1C1AVNG_enCA658CA662&oq=kim+bolan++federal+court+stays+order+releasing+gangster+gunman&aqs=chrome..69i57.20407j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8</a><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"> I will have more to say about this in the next blog. If you've been with me a long time, you may remember some of the things I wrote in times gone by. You're likely to get some more of the same. </span><br />
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-14873446560265626192018-05-10T08:33:00.001-07:002018-05-10T08:33:35.080-07:00Post 222--Boy Scouts--Mormons-- Post-Gender<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">The components of this post title seem like strange or, at least, unusual "bed partners," a term that in this context is kind of a pun. I don't know about you, but I love puns and frequently look for them. After you read this post, you may well appreciate this one. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not only does the title consist of unusual bed partners, but I may well have just coined a neologism, that is, a new word--"Post-Gender." At least, I do not recall ever having come across the term.That's another thing I love to do: coin neologisms in my writings. Just because a word is not in the latest dictionary does not mean it is wrong or illegitimate. Languages grow because of people like me, who create new words that then slowly gain in popularity, till even the dictionary editors agree and include it. Language is one of the most democratic entities in the world. Even the most oppressive civilizations continue to create new words and no one can stop that process--or progress!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As to the connection between these bed partners, I invite you to read the article below by Jim Denison. Yes, it's an American story, but it will undoubtedly affect the Canadian scout movement as well. I have not done any research on the Canadian scouts and have not come across any media stories about them on the issue of this post, but I would not be surprised if they have beat the Americans to the draw, for Canadian culture is often more quickly accepting of such changes in culture, something I am not proud of. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am not sure of my reactions to this change in the Scouts, for I am not familiar enough with them to know what practical effect it would have. Furthermore, I am wary of gender changes among children and teens, for apparently research is showing that tendencies at that early age are often reversed in the early twenties. I believe that we should fully accept genuine trans-gendered persons, for they are not that by choice but by factors over which we have little control and which they do not voluntarily choose. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But I also suspect that we need to be careful of this feature in early life. So, for me the jury is still out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I do have some advice for my Mormon neighbours. Instead of creating your own scouting equivalent, consider joining the very successful equivalent my own church, the Christian Reformed Church, has been operating for years already. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nevertheless, I pass on this article to give you a feeling of the social disruption such radical changes introduce into society. Should I say, "Enjoy the read?" Not sure. </span><br />
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The Boy Scouts are dropping "Boy" from their name</div>
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<tr><td class="x_mcnTextContent" style="color: #ff7f4d; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; line-height: 27px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><em>Dr. Jim Denison<span style="color: #eaeaea;"> </span><span style="color: #eaeaea; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, times, "times new roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont;">|</span></span><span style="color: #eaeaea;"> </span></em>May 10, 2018</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="x_mcnTextContent" style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px 18px 9px; word-break: break-word;" valign="top"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: roboto, "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif, serif, EmojiFont;"><strong>READ TIME:</strong> 4 minutes--plus 1 minute for my intro.</span></span></td></tr>
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I remember fondly my years with the Boy Scouts. Overnight campouts with my father. Lessons in outdoor survival and the care of nature. Building camaraderie in an environment uniquely suited to develop boys into men.</div>
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As a teenager, I became too involved in academics and other activities to continue in the Boy Scouts, but I have always admired the Eagle Scouts I met and consider their achievement to be enormously significant. The list of notable Eagle Scouts <a href="https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D58ca8f87ed%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C95a8eef1cec44d4dfbd408d5b6651c54%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636615467746746580&sdata=q5vVqp2%2BbR1DVMgPUfSlxFML%2BfdgajgN9emsazYoDzc%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=58ca8f87ed&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="ylXTMNn1NGdBizPH2o8zbB69pV9d3zsSj3nloG0tYzIzAxhP/fDnA5ipllU3K6YroZ4iTwzMY9/sljFZ8JVio5V+qFTbdCMkQIPArupQgFAimgXxxdngdye7reZco5r0OZq+FfMKknA5vKn+CWaZKU71eeT11CTQ6Bkn7CODnjU=" style="color: #2baadf;" target="_blank">includes</a> President Gerald Ford, astronaut Neil Armstrong (the first man on the moon), Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, and businessman Sam Walton.</div>
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The Boy Scouts have been one of America's great cultural institutions. Five years ago, things began to <a href="https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D395d031f32%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C95a8eef1cec44d4dfbd408d5b6651c54%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636615467746746580&sdata=vrTaeQbCFkI1mDmVACFWCXRj0k39falIlVtU6904dZ0%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=395d031f32&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="y+i3Yuf99aamjOvXNCWmxOYUEBEZYK8wVBSbPb8ljIrgiGA/fTqbaxZHy2CHE4KzKwxW2Fjyu8jVZKFJZpRvTP2tqsOI4/JFAeoEE5UPAy3imO4ahKyZboD5tUSspMZ6NCHouWChZBztnnpUHM4IYyP+UA+bgMNoD2kJcr3CJDU=" style="color: #2baadf;" target="_blank">change</a>.</div>
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<strong>What the BSA has done</strong></div>
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From their inception in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) excluded openly gay people from membership or leadership. The Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that they had a legal right to continue this position.</div>
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Then companies such as UPS, drug manufacturer Merck, and the United Way began opposing the organization's policy, choosing to stop or postpone their financial support. A gay advocacy group gathered more than 1.2 million online signatures to protest the BSA's position.</div>
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In response, the BSA <a href="https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D3d4913cf08%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C95a8eef1cec44d4dfbd408d5b6651c54%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636615467746746580&sdata=NrYVcFVcud5kyyeMkCWNG8e6NiYFAtNe5P%2FjFT0rIdU%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=3d4913cf08&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="CdUHw2Zrilny+cSyb1EBHBa7GodSowEw3nrJIN36gWi/+qj6DtwWy8d/mLWu5E+q2DahCLoNjWKGVvzYgKTicBhVT/comkm1OJRDNry1K1iSfooxh4oWb7+nEif9vpKj2IVJcsNsxWSSSED+xPA2piKfDP0j1CdvSVes08B3wXY=" style="color: #2baadf;" target="_blank">voted</a> on May 23, 2013, to open the organization to openly gay individuals. On July 27, 2015, they chose to permit openly gay Scout leaders.</div>
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On January 30, 2017, the BSA announced that transgender boys would be allowed to enroll in boys-only programs, effective immediately. On October 11, 2017, they announced that girls would be allowed to become Cub Scouts in 2018 and that a separate program for older girls would begin in 2019.</div>
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To further the inclusion of girls, the BSA is now <a href="https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D38091a2213%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C95a8eef1cec44d4dfbd408d5b6651c54%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636615467746746580&sdata=tUwQOeKO7hviArEQPv47YCnHlXZjRoflVq1gWO9MS%2Bo%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=38091a2213&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="OLTxNTpPqGDKD97DHdwDXaen8GQa1j5bAiLgSugI35In2DCTu7e6vDNykqomcY/SSU5BLackp9dAMRJ3KM1VyY+/vVWjxZ0oWLFhkU50POVZFx1JKR/h1wNlDk0Ssr2vnrgNIcXBeI7oerQ/46OpAXQFVh7/MBl0TGbSWUUXRsk=" style="color: #2baadf;" target="_blank">dropping</a> "Boy" from the name of its signature program. Starting in February 2019, the Boy Scouts program for boys ages eleven to seventeen will be called Scouts BSA. The overall organization will remain Boy Scouts of America.</div>
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The organization said the decision was in response to the needs of families and because of dropping membership. The BSA has lost about a third of its members since 2000.</div>
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<strong>Why the Mormon response is important</strong></div>
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When the BSA decided to include openly gay Scouts five years ago, a leader in the organization told me that the key reaction to watch would come from the Mormon Church.</div>
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For a century, any boy who was part of a Mormon congregation was automatically part of the Boy Scouts. As a result, more Scouts have come from Mormon churches than from any other organization.</div>
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However, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has <a href="https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D0c76c31eb4%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C95a8eef1cec44d4dfbd408d5b6651c54%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636615467746902845&sdata=3WIXR%2FH3doKtDHaC0W%2BfBXv6ELHNW%2F5UHIJcCf0Ic1o%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=0c76c31eb4&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="eSoe5QDdu1jeORvTw7hBnK/rnXWxZasHelHoPdaXuKtQMHK+plqsTEZ590b7nmVCr1LwxCTUN8njL02AzlTdkohH440EhsvtD1DTtoytXgMhQ5mUFXyEdeDpC9kJHb168VAFFUPFayRt1b3Nr1eLBWNNk7aq7+ZfvNYWyA0gvsY=" style="color: #2baadf;" target="_blank">announced</a> it will sever all ties with the BSA. Their affiliation will end on December 31, 2019.</div>
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This change will affect hundreds of thousands of Mormon boys in more than thirty thousand congregations across the country. The church will create its own youth program, to be launched in January 2020.</div>
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The church said it was "deeply troubled" by the BSA's decision to lift the ban on openly gay adult leaders in 2015. The Mormon Church opposes same-sex marriage, teaches that sex outside of marriage is sinful, and does not permit openly gay men or women to hold leadership roles.</div>
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<strong>Abandoning vital distinctives</strong></div>
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I recently read an advance copy of John S. Dickerson's <em><a href="https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdenisonforum.us1.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b%26id%3D4199b9435d%26e%3Db0d9827b5e&data=02%7C01%7C%7C95a8eef1cec44d4dfbd408d5b6651c54%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636615467746902845&sdata=ON%2FEut0vvX3AFCnE4tueUq3ov0KZsAkMVqgmZhZOTVQ%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://denisonforum.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5369bb601ac44bfdda928110b&id=4199b9435d&e=b0d9827b5e" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="jS1V+M52Q0Lt0uFcaxEQMiVcWnnTRphrK4Ce/YK4IBypK2ks/vCctW4lRgLcZvj9LKYvQUkYviyWsKixSzxzEE69/tpy3x9QKtBIde/GZ2jy+j13FIW6pAj2bpM1ECuUF07erY7hOq+p+QA6sbndekVEfXEu7bOxnlEBvQKySMk=" style="color: #2baadf;" target="_blank">Hope of Nations: Standing Strong in a Post-Truth, Post-Christian World</a></em>. Dickerson is a pastor, researcher, and award-winning journalist. His latest book is an illuminating, troubling, and inspiring look into the likely future for our culture.</div>
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In light of Dickerson's outstanding research, it is clear to me that BSA leaders are responding to a culture that should trouble us all. Dickerson notes that 89 percent of Americans believe "people should not criticize someone else's life choices." A frightening 74 percent of Millennials believe morality to be a matter of cultural consensus (compared with 39 percent of Elders who agree).</div>
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Bernie Sanders ran for president in 2016 as an overt socialist. More Millennials voted for him in the 2016 presidential primaries than for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton—combined. Clearly, the younger Americans are, the less committed they are to traditional values and biblical truth.</div>
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BSA leaders apparently believe that compromising their traditional values and distinctives by including all sexual identities and genders is the way forward in this pluralistic, relativistic day.<br />I would respond that they are abandoning what made them such a unique and vibrant part of our national ethos.</div>
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If a ship in a storm jettisons the cargo it was intended to protect, it fails its mission.</div>
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<strong>How to be good ambassadors</strong></div>
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You and I are "ambassadors for Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:20). Ambassadors have three jobs: (1) understand the foreign culture where they now live; (2) represent the authority on whose behalf they serve; (3) work faithfully until they are called home.</div>
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Today, you will be the presence of Christ to those you meet. They will judge your Master by his messenger. If you ask the Holy Spirit to author your words (Mathew 10:19) and sanctify your character (Galatians 5:22–23), he will.</div>
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Jesus came "to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18–19).</div>
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Let's join him.</div>
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-3606309001315638992018-05-04T09:49:00.000-07:002018-05-04T09:49:02.861-07:00Post 221--Trudeau: An Emerging Secular Dictator<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">I promised you yesterday that I would continue with the topic of secularism trying to impose, force, its will on the rest of us. Even secular writers and media have joined the chorus of objections about Trudeau's hierarchy of rights that places, well, forces actually, pro-abortion and women's rights at the top of the pile, regardless of the negative impact on other rights that our legal system considers equal. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The specific issue at stake here is Trudeau's withholding long-standing grants to the Canada Summer Jobs programme. Any organization that does not accept his views on abortion and on women's rights will no longer accept grants under that programme. The women's rights referred to here are their right to abort or not, long a volatile issue in Canadian politics and culture that even a conservative Prime Minister like Steven Harper did not dare touch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I will give the podium once again to yesterday's guest, lawyer John Carpay of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (www.JCCF.ca). Below Carpay's article there is reference to another hard-hitting piece supporting Carpay. Go, read, and judge for yourself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Trudeau's Troubling Insistence That Charities Pick A Side On Abortion</span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small;">One of the differences between a free society and a repressive </span><span style="font-size: 20px;">regime is the right to remain silent.</span></div>
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A law that requires Canadians to say "please" and "thank you" would be a bad law.</div>
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Not because these are bad words, but because in a free country, nobody should be compelled to say anything. One of the differences between a free society and a repressive <nobr style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="pxInta" data-rapid_p="12" data-v9y="1" href="https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/#" id="PXLINK_1_0_1" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: initial !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: initial !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: initial !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; box-shadow: rgb(13, 190, 152) 0px -2px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; display: inline !important; font-size: inherit !important; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-out, background-color 0.3s ease-out;">regime</a></nobr> is the right to remain silent.</div>
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<figure class="content-list-component image" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 0; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto 20px; max-width: 100%; min-width: initial; padding: 0px; text-align: center; width: 630px;"><span class="share-bar-image-wrapper" data-beacon="{"p":{"mnid":"entry_image"}}" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><img class="image__src" src="https://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?crop=3599%2C2400%2C0%2C0&quality=85&format=jpg&resize=630%2C420&image_uri=http%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fhss%2Fstorage%2Fmidas%2Fe8b9c19326a1966fb7a32edf721ed722%2F206152485%2F18452933.jpg&client=a1acac3e1b3290917d92&signature=227c0a658afc79aa9a8e6e9461e73e6e624d268e" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" /></span><span class="image__credit" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #999999; display: block; font-size: 0.5625rem; line-height: 1.4em; list-style: none; margin: 5px 0px 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase;">THE CANADIAN PRESS/JOHN WOODS</span><figcaption class="image__caption" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; font-size: 0.875rem; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 7px 0px 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px 0px 8px; text-align: left;">Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to a question about Child and Family Services at a town hall meeting at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg on Jan. 31, 2018.</figcaption></figure><br />
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In medieval England, King Henry VIII passed a law requiring all to declare their support for him (and not the pope) as the head of the Church of England. Thomas More <a data-rapid-elm="context_link" data-rapid-sec="{"entry-text":"entry-text"}" data-rapid_p="2" data-v9y="0" data-ylk="elm:context_link" href="http://www.famous-trials.com/thomasmore/996-moreoath" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; box-shadow: rgb(13, 190, 152) 0px -2px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-out, background-color 0.3s ease-out;" target="_blank">had his head chopped off in 1535</a>, merely for remaining silent and for refusing to say that the king was the supreme head of the church. So insecure and thin-skinned was Henry VIII that he could not stand Thomas More's silence.</div>
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And so it is with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his belief that abortion should be legal during all nine months of pregnancy.</div>
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That is the state of the law in Canada today. It has been so since 1988, when the Supreme Court of Canada (<a data-rapid-elm="context_link" data-rapid-sec="{"entry-text":"entry-text"}" data-rapid_p="3" data-v9y="0" data-ylk="elm:context_link" href="https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/288/index.do" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; box-shadow: rgb(13, 190, 152) 0px -2px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-out, background-color 0.3s ease-out;" target="_blank">R. v. Morgentaler</a>) invited Parliament to pass new legislation to provide at least some protection to the unborn, particularly during the latter stages of pregnancy. Parliament has not done so.</div>
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For our post-modernist prime minister, the silence of Canadians on the subject of abortion is not good enough. Like Henry VIII, Trudeau needs to hear his people say that they agree with him.</div>
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Starting this year, charities must state that they support abortion being legal if they wish to access a grant through <a data-rapid-elm="context_link" data-rapid-sec="{"entry-text":"entry-text"}" data-rapid_p="4" data-v9y="1" data-ylk="elm:context_link" href="https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/canada/employment-social-development/services/funding/canada-summer-jobs/CSJ2018_applicant_guide.pdf" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; box-shadow: rgb(13, 190, 152) 0px -2px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-out, background-color 0.3s ease-out;" target="_blank">the Canada Summer Jobs program</a>, which provides federal government grants to non-profits and to businesses, to hire a summer student. Charities must further state that abortion is a Charter right, in spite of the fact that Parliament can legislate to protect unborn life.</div>
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This means that the Mustard Seed, which helps tens of thousands of Alberta's poor, homeless and addicted, regardless of the client's faith, creed or colour, will hire fewer students. Its CEO Stephen Wile <a data-rapid-elm="context_link" data-rapid-sec="{"entry-text":"entry-text"}" data-rapid_p="5" data-v9y="1" data-ylk="elm:context_link" href="http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/corbella-in-the-name-of-tolerance-trudeau-attacks-faith-and-those-who-serve-others" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; box-shadow: rgb(13, 190, 152) 0px -2px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-out, background-color 0.3s ease-out;" target="_blank">stated</a>:</div>
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"The Mustard Seed doesn't take a position on abortion, but with the government making this a requirement for funding, it's trying to force us from a neutral position to an affirmative position on abortion, and we're not prepared to do that. ... We're not willing to support the government's position in order to get the funds; it's just not worth it for us."</div>
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In response to a public outcry, Trudeau and his Labour Minister Patricia Hajdu have declared that this new attestation only applies to pro-life groups, not to charities who might happen to adhere to pro-life beliefs. As Trudeau <a data-rapid-elm="context_link" data-rapid-sec="{"entry-text":"entry-text"}" data-rapid_p="6" data-v9y="1" data-ylk="elm:context_link" href="http://nationalpost.com/news/politics/trudeau-abortion-clause-in-canada-summer-jobs-grant-application-shouldnt-put-off-religious-groups" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; box-shadow: rgb(13, 190, 152) 0px -2px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-out, background-color 0.3s ease-out;" target="_blank">put it</a>: "Of course, you're more than allowed to have whatever beliefs you like." As Hajdu <a data-rapid-elm="context_link" data-rapid-sec="{"entry-text":"entry-text"}" data-rapid_p="7" data-v9y="1" data-ylk="elm:context_link" href="https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/01/23/liberals-say-summer-job-funding-based-on-organizations-activities-not-values.html" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; box-shadow: rgb(13, 190, 152) 0px -2px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-out, background-color 0.3s ease-out;" target="_blank">explained</a>: "This is about the activities of the organization and the job description. ... This is not about beliefs or values."</div>
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These assurances have now proven to be utterly false.</div>
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Since the Feb. 9, 2018 deadline for applying for Canada Summer <nobr style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="pxInta" data-rapid_p="13" data-v9y="1" href="https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/#" id="PXLINK_0_0_0" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: initial !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: initial !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: initial !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; box-shadow: rgb(13, 190, 152) 0px -2px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; display: inline !important; font-size: inherit !important; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-out, background-color 0.3s ease-out;">Jobs</a></nobr> funding, numerous charities have been told, in writing, that they will not receive funding unless they check off the "I attest" box on the application, to confirm their support for legal abortion as a Charter right.</div>
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"It seems," stated Mustard Seed CEO Wile, "like the government is saying, 'The issue of where you stand on abortion is more important than the work you do and the people you serve,' and that's really sad. At the core of who we are, we're really against fear and hate, and unfortunately, the government is taking a position that instead of decelerating division, it's accelerating it."</div>
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Losing several thousand dollars of government funding is nothing compared to losing your head. But the underlying issue of government-compelled speech should not be dismissed lightly.</div>
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<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "proximanova" , "noto sans kr" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , "ヒラギノ角ゴ pro w3" , "hiragino kaku gothic pro" , "osaka" , , "meiryo" , "ms pゴシック" , "ms pgothic" , sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">More blogs from HuffPost Canada:</span></h2>
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<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 6px; padding: 0px;"><a data-rapid-elm="context_link" data-rapid-sec="{"entry-text":"entry-text"}" data-rapid_p="9" data-v9y="1" data-ylk="elm:context_link" href="https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/daniel-tencer/progressives-are-making-a-big-mistake-abandoning-freedom-of-speech_a_23313052?utm_campaign=canada_dau" style="border: 0px; box-shadow: rgb(13, 190, 152) 0px -2px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-out, background-color 0.3s ease-out;" target="_hplink">Progressives Are Making A Big Mistake Abandoning Freedom Of Speech</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 6px; padding: 0px;"><a data-rapid-elm="context_link" data-rapid-sec="{"entry-text":"entry-text"}" data-rapid_p="10" data-v9y="1" data-ylk="elm:context_link" href="https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/danielle-s-mclaughlin/charlie-hebdo-free-speech_b_6462818.html?utm_campaign=canada_dau" style="border: 0px; box-shadow: rgb(13, 190, 152) 0px -2px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-out, background-color 0.3s ease-out;" target="_hplink">We Must Teach Kids That Free Speech Has More Than One Side</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 6px; padding: 0px;"><a data-rapid-elm="context_link" data-rapid-sec="{"entry-text":"entry-text"}" data-rapid_p="11" data-v9y="1" data-ylk="elm:context_link" href="https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/andrea-mrozek/doctors-birth-control-ottawa_b_5621039.html?utm_campaign=canada_dau" style="border: 0px; box-shadow: rgb(13, 190, 152) 0px -2px 0px inset; box-sizing: inherit; color: black; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: box-shadow 0.3s ease-out, background-color 0.3s ease-out;" target="_hplink">Doctors Should Not Be Forced to Prescribe the Pill</a></li>
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Pro-choicers should be just as worried about this policy as pro-lifers.</div>
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Even if a charity shared Trudeau's opinions about abortion, it would still violate freedom of expression to be compelled to state one's belief about abortion as a condition for accessing a government program that one is otherwise entitled to access.</div>
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How is this Canada Summer Jobs attestation different from requiring seniors to agree with Trudeau's beliefs in order to receive their pension cheques? If some seniors spend their days doing volunteer work for pro-life groups, should their pension benefits be cut off, for disagreeing with the prime minister?</div>
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If Trudeau can get away with this, what stops a future prime minister from compelling Canadians to express support for his — or her — beliefs, as a condition of accessing a government program or benefit?</div>
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The URL for the above: https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/john-carpay/trudeaus-troubling-insistence-that-charities-pick-a-side-on-abortion_a_23368528/</div>
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There are dozens more articles from all sorts of directions on this subject. A major one is Don Hutchinson's, "Justin's Pipe Smoke," found at https://www.convivium.ca/articles/justins-pipe-smoke?_cldee=Ym9lcmpmQGhvdG1haWwuY29t&recipientid=contact-f45cf8cbefe7df118766001e0b613b64-cc4416a08b8f47f1857c08db376e408d&esid=ab8baaf4-054f-e811-80f6-3863bb35dde0</div>
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-64369248078899660012018-05-03T08:20:00.000-07:002018-05-03T08:20:44.514-07:00Post 220--Easter Bunnies and Secular Emptyness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I keep writing against secularism and you keep reading the stuff. I am grateful to you. This issue is not a mere hobby horse on my part; this is serious stuff. Our reading today is basically a story of the emptyness of secularism, but also its intolerance and its insistence on imposing itself, forcing itself upon Christians. Probably not as much on Muslims and other religions. For some reason a shield of protection has grown up around these religions so that secularists tend to keep a distance.<br />
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Today is a story about an Ontario social worker trying to shut down the foster home of a Christian couple who did not fully or enthusiastically support the myth and practice of the Easter bunny. Now Easter is a most holy feast the celebrates the resurrection of Christ. Since the resurrection probably cannot ever be touched or proven by science, secularists deny the resurrection. It beats me how they come to that conclusion, at least how they come to that conclusion on basis of science! But so they believe! Yes, do not misunderstand them: they are believers, as fully as Hindus, Sikhs and the rest of us. It is secularists'<i> belief</i> that makes them deny the resurrection, not science.<br />
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I am sorry that the format is too wide for this frame. I don't know how to fix that. But you can access both ends of the line by using the Home and End keys. If one of you knows how to fix such problems, please contact me at < boerjf@hotmail.com >.<br />
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Well, let me not waste your time on my rants. Read the story by John Carpay himself. He is one of the very few lawyers for whom I have any use or respect as lawyers. I am trying hard to respect them as persons.<br />
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Easter Bunny ruling an affirmation of the freedom of conscience, religion, expression</h1>
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Foster parents had a right not to be compelled to speak, John Carpay writes</h2>
<section style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <date style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #6e6e6e; display: inline-block; font-family: Univers, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 10px; vertical-align: middle;">Mar 18, 2018</date> <author style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(11, 68, 145) !important; display: inline-block; font-family: "UniversLTStd BoldCn", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-weight: normal;">by </span>John Carpay</author> <name style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #6e6e6e; display: inline-block; font-family: Univers, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 12px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 10px; padding-right: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle;">Hamilton Spectator</name></section></div>
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The Baars had refused CAS demands to proactively tell the two young girls in their care that the Easter Bunny is real. - Hamilton Spectator file photo</div>
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Government agencies have been reminded that they must respect the constitutional rights of foster parents. This month, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice rebuked the Children's Aid Society of Hamilton (CAS) for having closed down the foster home of Frances and Derek Baars. The Baars had refused CAS demands to proactively tell the two young girls in their care that the Easter Bunny is real.</div>
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The Court's recitation of the facts is almost surreal. CAS accepted the Baars as foster parents, knowing full-well that this Christian couple does not promote the cultural traditions of Santa and the Easter Bunny, as they would not lie to children. Two young girls, then four and three, were placed with Frances and Derek in December of 2015. The girls' biological mother communicated with the Baars by way of a journal, and thanked the Baars for having provided a good and happy Christmas for her girls. She made no mention of Santa Claus. But social worker Tracey Lindsay upbraided Frances and Derek for not having taken a photo of the girls with Santa. Ms. Lindsay then began to demand that Frances and Derek celebrate Easter by actively telling the young girls that the Easter Bunny is real. The Baars tried to compromise with Ms. Lindsay, informing her they intended have a hunt for chocolate eggs, buy the girls new dresses, and refrain from saying anything at all about a large imaginary rabbit.</div>
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CAS was stubbornly focused in its intention to control the minds and mouths of the Baars. CAS refused the Baars' offer to have the girls stay with another family over Easter. CAS refused the Baars' offer to keep their foster home open for infants, who are too young to appreciate or process information about mythical beings. CAS refused the Baars' offer to foster only children coming from religious or cultural backgrounds that do not celebrate Santa or the Easter Bunny.</div>
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The removal of the young girls from the care of Frances and Derek, on only one day's notice, was heart-breaking. The Court accepted the testimony of social worker Kathleen Kufeldt, that sudden removal of the girls from their environment would be traumatizing, and detrimental to the girls' best interests. The girls' own mother had expressed nothing but satisfaction with the loving care that her daughters were receiving from Frances and Derek.</div>
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RELATED CONTENT</h2>
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Requirement to say Easter Bunny is real violated Hamilton foster parent’s charter rights: court</h3>
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When cross-examined on her affidavit, Ms. Lindsay readily admitted that the girls were loved, cared for, protected, clothed, sheltered and well looked after. In court, CAS argued that the Baars lacked the capacity to meet the children's cultural needs. But neither Santa nor the Easter Bunny was a high priority for the girls' biological mother. No law requires foster parents to uphold the pet fancies of social workers.</div>
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The Court also took a dim view of Ms. Lindsay's hostility in questioning the Baars about same-sex marriage, and expressing fears that the Baars would mistreat or disrespect same-sex couples. The Court rejected Ms. Lindsay's claim that these questions and comments were somehow necessary or relevant. The Court noted that "there is potentially further evidence of an underlying animus" in the actions of CAS toward the Baars.</div>
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CAS violated the Baars' Charter-protected freedom of conscience and religion, by attempting to coerce Frances and Derek to violate their religious beliefs, as a condition of continuing to serve as foster parents. Further, the requirement to say something that the Baars did not believe (that the Easter Bunny is real) is compelled speech, which violates Charter-protected freedom of expression.</div>
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The court's denunciation of compelled speech is especially relevant to the Canada Summer <nobr style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit;"><a class="pxInta" href="https://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/8336010-easter-bunny-ruling-an-affirmation-of-the-freedom-of-conscience-religion-expression/#" id="PXLINK_0_0_0" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: initial !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: initial !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: initial !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(11, 68, 145) !important; display: inline !important; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.3em; padding-bottom: 1px !important;">Jobs</a></nobr> program "attestation" in support of abortion being legal, and Ontario's Law Society now requiring lawyers to express their agreement with "equity, diversity and inclusion." This court ruling will help protect Canadians' freedom of conscience, religion, and expression. It will also help protect religious foster parents and religious adoptive parents, by preventing social workers like Tracey Lindsay from closing good homes to needy children. Last but not least, vulnerable children will benefit from having more foster homes become available.</div>
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(Here's the URL for this article: <a href="https://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/8336010-easter-bunny-ruling-an-affirmation-of-the-freedom-of-conscience-religion-expression/" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">https://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/8336010-easter-bunny-ruling-an-affirmation-of-the-freedom-of-conscience-religion-expression/</a></div>
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Lawyer John Carpay is president of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (www.jccf.ca) which represented Frances and Derek Baars in their court action against the Hamilton Children's Aid Society.</div>
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-89410064116452214482018-04-21T10:42:00.004-07:002018-04-21T10:44:23.625-07:00Post 219--A Picture Is Worth....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-73213767195805412782018-04-19T15:49:00.000-07:002018-04-19T15:49:25.101-07:00Post 218--Kuyper on Ascension and Pentecost<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Abraham Kuyper, was / is a famous Dutch theologian, philosopher, journalist, organizer, politician and what not, who straddled the 19th and 20th century and who is the inspiration of just about all of my writings, including this blog. He is mostly famous for his vigorous Christian approach to society and culture. However, he also wrote reams of spiritual meditations, most of whom are not known due to the language in which they are originally written, namely my mother tongue, Dutch. There probably are no more than 20 million speakers of the Dutch language. Nevertheless, enough has been translated that he has become an influential thinker and social activist in North America for <i>Christianity Today</i>, a prominent evangelical magazine in the USA, to declare Kuyper one of the three most influential theologians in the country. <br />
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Note well: "Influential," which is not the same as "famous" or "recognized." His influence has and continues to seep throughout North American theology and social thought through leaders of Christian thought without his name being bandied about. <br />
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If you want to know something about Kuyper, I invite you to access my website: <br />
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www.SocialTheology.com<br />
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This rather extensive website is shot through with the spirit of Kuyper--as I am myself, personally!<br />
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Now, the above sentence may need some clarification. I am not idolizing Kuyper, let alone deifying him. However, through the lens of his perspective my understanding of and devotion to Christ has been sharpened and more focused than ever before. His teachings, especially as they have been further developed by an entire school of thought known by various names--especially Kuyperianism, Neo-Calvinism and Reformational-- have expanded my world and my horizons so that I, like many others in my condition, feel liberated from and equipped to understand the myths of the secularism and face them head on.<br />
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So, while almost all of my recent blog posts have featured the writings of others with my making a few comments as introduction, this one is entirely my own. I translated and published a book of Kuyper's meditation on the subjects of Christ's ascension and the Spirit's descension. The full title is: THE ASCENT OF THE SON--THE DESCENT OF THE SPIRIT: 26 MEDITATIONS.<br />
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Below, you will find a brief introduction to that book, that was published in the Canadian Reformed bi-weekly <i>Christian Courier. </i>I pass it on to you at this point to give you ample time to spiritually prepare yourself to celebrate both Ascension and Pentecost. I was tardy with Easter. This time I want to be on time to help you prepare. Here goes:<br />
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Kuyper the evangelical</h1>
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In terms of his published work, Abraham Kuyper is probably best known for his tomes on academic, social, economic, political and theological topics.</div>
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Posted May 26, 2014 / by Jan Boer / May 26, 2014 in</div>
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In terms of his published work, Abraham Kuyper is probably best known for his tomes on academic, social, economic, political and theological topics. However, another genre of Kuyper’s writing is beginning to receive (renewed) attention in English, namely his volumes of meditations and writings on the Holy Spirit. I have decided to contribute to that revival by translating one of his meditational books, the title of which I translate as The Ascent of the Son – The Descent of the Spirit: 26 Meditations on Ascension and Pentecost.<br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" />Kuyper explains that he treats Christ’s Ascension and Pentecost in one book because these events are so closely related. Though the church today tends to downplay Pentecost and almost ignore the Ascension, Kuyper insists on their importance. You can’t do without them and you can’t afford to ignore them, for they are together woven into your entire spiritual life.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;">The birthday of the Catholic world church</strong> <br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" />“On Pentecost, the Church of God steps onto the world stage as the universal Catholic world church,” the introduction begins. It’s a majestic declaration. Undoubtedly, at the time of the event itself, people would have been surprised at such an opening, since the community of believers was a mere handful. Could even the most ardent believer at the time envision a universal church? I like the spirit of that opening. The world church deserves that kind of declaration, for it represents the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. <br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" />Why does Pentecost, not to speak of Ascension, command so much less attention today than Easter or Christmas? For his own day, Kuyper explains that this was “not because Pentecost has less value or respect . . . but because it appeals to a level of imagination and conception too high for the average person and is too spiritual. Pentecost is the noblest of the three feasts, but only for those who have tasted the noblest. Only those who themselves have received the ‘first fruits of the Spirit’ can truly celebrate this Feast of the Spirit!” <br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" />We need to revive Pentecost, “the noblest of the three,” as well as Ascension. If you are born again, Kuyper would want you be the one to <nobr style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; transition: 0.35s;"><a class="pxInta" href="http://www.christiancourier.ca/columns-op-ed/entry/kuyper-the-evangelical#" id="PXLINK_3_0_3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: initial !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: initial !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: initial !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; display: inline !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: 700; padding-bottom: 1px !important; transition: 0.35s;">start</a></nobr> this revival!</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;">Universalized spiritual memoir </strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" />I have become convinced that these meditations reflect Kuyper’s own spiritual journey and makeup. As we’ll discuss, he underwent a lengthy <nobr style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; transition: 0.35s;"><a class="pxInta" href="http://www.christiancourier.ca/columns-op-ed/entry/kuyper-the-evangelical#" id="PXLINK_2_0_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: initial !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: initial !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: initial !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; display: inline !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: 700; padding-bottom: 1px !important; transition: 0.35s;">conversion</a></nobr> experience during which he struggled intensely. His earlier liberal theological convictions toppled one after another. One of his biographers, Frank Vanden Berg, wrote, “his inner spiritual struggle of those days was one of those intimate personal experiences that remain behind the veil. One does not publicize them.” I believe that these meditations represent much of his own personal spiritual struggles; that he did, in fact, write about them here. It was just not in acknowledged biographical format. <br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" />Furthermore, these personal experiences were mixed with his theological instincts, with each one influencing the other. Many of the chapters contain heavy trinitarian theology stuff mixed with what he considers universal Christian spiritual experiences, but which, I have a hunch, were, in fact, personal rather than universal. <br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" />Though I deeply appreciate reading these profound reflections on his spiritual experiences, I cannot always identify with them, even though he universalizes them. My experiences are different, probably a little more relaxed, from those of this intense man for whom everything seemed so absolute. I can point to experiences in my own life, but not to the antithetical type Kuyper experienced and thought common.<br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" />Kuyper’s spiritual struggles never ceased. They reflect the ups and downs of St. Paul, who would descend from the mountaintop of praise and worship down to the cry that, of all men, he was the most miserable. Kuyper’s forceful personality, his native quest for power and his proclivity towards pride would continually trip him up and lead to moments of despair.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;">The eyes of the soul</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" />Faith and angst seemed never far from each other in what he considered a typical Christian’s struggle: “Would God forget his grace and never again bless with his mercy? Was the experience of salvation only something momentary in order to let him sink into even deeper suffering? Was it a mere glimpse of a light beam that would make the dark fears in his heart even more real? And so the soul goes under, defeated. Oh, no, not so fast, not immediately. At first, when this situation develops, he, that typical Christian, doesn’t know it and is not aware of missing anything. But once this forsaken state ends and the Lord revives his soul again, that’s when the regrets and the pain return. And only when the Comforter returns, does he realize with unspeakable pain that the Comforter had left him.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" />But such struggles, real as they are, always end in victory: “Even among those born again, the <nobr style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; transition: 0.35s;"><a class="pxInta" href="http://www.christiancourier.ca/columns-op-ed/entry/kuyper-the-evangelical#" id="PXLINK_1_0_1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: initial !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: initial !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: initial !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; display: inline !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: 700; padding-bottom: 1px !important; transition: 0.35s;">eye</a></nobr>of the soul can at times close again either partly or fully so that it can no longer see the Spirit clearly, but in such cases the consoling face retains his presence; the Holy Spirit does not withdraw. Not for one moment should we entertain the thought that the struggle of King Jesus for the further development of his Kingdom is ever suspended for even a minute.” <br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" />In these meditations every true Christian is portrayed as having experienced deep and profound struggles of fear and despair until she crosses the spiritual threshold and comes to rest in the arms of a compassionate Father, now glorifying in his <nobr style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; transition: 0.35s;"><a class="pxInta" href="http://www.christiancourier.ca/columns-op-ed/entry/kuyper-the-evangelical#" id="PXLINK_0_0_0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: initial !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: initial !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: initial !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; display: inline !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: 700; padding-bottom: 1px !important; transition: 0.35s;">love</a></nobr> and peace.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;">Ponder, don’t analyze</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" />I would guess that most born-again Christians go through some struggles before “delivery,” but Kuyper’s description of the process and experience is over the top. He was extremely intense and absolute. He had a strong love for power and needed to dominate. His egotism sometimes seemed almost boundless. It was only when he read a novel of two brothers in which all these characteristics of strength and power were pitted against those of love and self-sacrifice with the latter clearly ending up in victory, that the truth finally dawned on Kuyper: he had to give all that up.<br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" />But then, once the light of God has entered our souls and we’ve given up all that negative stuff, we begin to “see all of reality in a totally different perspective, both things on earth below and in heaven above.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" />If you plan to read these 26 meditations, allow yourself time to let them sink in. You could read one every two weeks, spend a year absorbing them and, with this deep focus on the person and work of the Holy Spirit, deepen both your intellectual and spiritual life. After all his detailed analysis of Trinitarian affairs, Kuyper advices with respect to Pentecost, “Ponder, but do not analyze too much.” That man of power and overstatement put it so gingerly and tenderly: “When you fall on your knees, this gaze in faith carries you quick as lightning, within one heartbeat, from your prayer room to the Lord in Heaven. Then you are in the presence of your Jesus, in whom you recognize the Lamb that was slain, and you worship him with a love that melts your soul.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: 0.35s;" />That’s the spiritual tone with which he closes many meditations. Kuyper, the most unabashed Evangelical of all Kuyperians!</div>
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-37064892454061736812018-04-10T14:38:00.000-07:002018-04-10T14:38:36.463-07:00Post 217--Resurrection Evidences<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A Dozen Evidences for the Resurrection of Jesus</h1>
<small style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://www.reasons.org/explore/blogs/reflections/read/reflections/2018/03/27/a-dozen-evidences-for-the-resurrection-of-jesus#author" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Kenneth R. Samples">BY KENNETH R. SAMPLES</a> - MARCH 27, 2018</small></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Easter 2018 is history. We've celebrated it and we're moving on to other things and other events. In the case of Jesus, we're moving on to His ascension into Heaven, which culminates shortly afterward in the coming of the Holy Spirit. This is all very true and very significant. </strong></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">However, I've been kind of slow on the draw and did not get around to a blog on time. So, today I come across this article on the resurrection of Jesus, evidences for it. I pass it on to you for your meditative consideration. </strong></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"> =========</strong></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"> A Dozen Evidences for the Resurrection of Jesus</strong></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"> By Kenneth R. Samples</strong></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1. Jesus’s Empty Tomb</strong></div>
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According to the Gospels,<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12.75px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">1</span> after Jesus succumbed to death through crucifixion, some of his followers prepared his lifeless body for burial and placed it in Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb. Three days later the tomb was discovered empty, for Jesus’s body had vanished. The empty tomb is a critical part of the resurrection account, for if Jesus’s body had been recovered, then Christianity would have been falsified right as it had just begun. Since Jesus predicted his resurrection (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+8%3A31&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Mark 8:31</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+9%3A22&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Luke 9:22</a>), if he didn’t rise from the dead, he would be a false prophet.</div>
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The report of Jesus’s empty tomb rings true, for the account emerges very early from a number of sources, and there is no good reason to doubt any of the people mentioned in the story. Furthermore, the tomb was owned by a particular person, so there is no good reason to think that Jesus’s followers had mistakenly gone to the wrong tomb. Also, the Jewish and Roman authorities had the resources to search thoroughly for the actual burial place had the empty tomb been a mere problem of mistaken identity.</div>
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It should also be recognized that the first alternative naturalistic explanation for the resurrection presupposed the truth of the vacated tomb. The Jewish authorities insisted that the tomb was empty because they planned to tell people that Jesus’s followers had come in the night and stolen the body (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+28%3A13&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Matthew 28:13</a>).</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2. Jesus’s Postmortem Appearances</strong></div>
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According to the apostle Paul’s letters as well as the four Gospel accounts, Jesus appeared alive after his death on numerous occasions. These appearances of Jesus were reported to be both physical and bodily in nature (he was seen, heard, and touched) and not purely spiritual or ghostlike. The resurrection appearances were also diverse and varied in that Jesus appeared to men and women, to friends and enemies, to single individuals as well as to small and large groups of people, to some persons on a single occasion and to others more than once, during the day and the night, as well as indoors and outdoors.</div>
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It is this diverse and varied nature of the appearances that makes it extremely improbable, if not impossible, to account for these encounters in terms of hallucinations. It may have been possible that the women who first encountered Jesus at the tomb succumbed to immense grief and experienced some kind of purely subjective and thus false vision of Jesus. But a purely psychological explanation is extremely implausible in the case of James the brother of Jesus, who was highly suspicious of his brother’s claims and even thought that Jesus suffered from mental delusion. And in the case of Saul of Tarsus, the hallucination theory is flatly impossible. Saul was an enemy of primitive Christianity and sought to imprison and even have Christians executed. Acting in a dismissive and violent manner against the early Christians and their beliefs, there is no way that Saul was susceptible to a false psychological experience.</div>
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It is also important to note that if one rejects the miraculous explanation of Jesus’s appearances, then two naturalistic alternative explanations are required—one to explain the empty tomb and another to explain the numerous appearances. <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">But the more complex these alternative theories are, the less likely they are to be true and viable.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">3. Short Time Frame between Actual Events and Eyewitness Claims</strong></div>
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Support for the factual nature of Jesus’s resurrection from the dead comes from eyewitness testimonies that were reported soon after the events happened. The apostle Paul claims both that he saw the resurrected Christ (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9%3A1-19&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Acts 9:1–19</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+22%3A6-16&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">22:6–16</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+26%3A12-23&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">26:12–23</a>) and that others witnessed the resurrection (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+corinthians+15%3A3&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">1 Corinthians 15:3</a>) prior to his personal encounter. Paul asserts in his writings that he received the firsthand testimony from Jesus’s original apostles who were witnesses of Jesus’s resurrection even before him.</div>
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In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he employs a creedal statement about the resurrection that dates to the earliest period of Christianity.<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12.75px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">2</span> This creed is believed, even by critical scholars (those who doubt the supernatural), to be part of the original Christian <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">kerygma</em> (“proclamation”—representing the earliest preaching and teaching message of Christianity). This early statement of faith that Paul relays mentions by name two of Jesus’s apostles who said they had seen the resurrected Christ. These two apostles are Peter (one of the original 12 apostles and principal spokesperson of primitive Christianity) and James (the brother of Jesus who was also an early apostolic leader).</div>
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Here is that early creedal statement as the apostle Paul wove it into his first Corinthian epistle:</div>
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For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas [Peter], and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.</div>
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–1 Corinthians 15:3–7</div>
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Paul’s statement gives us a fourfold formula of the primitive Christian proclamation as it relates to Jesus’s death and resurrection:</div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">Christ died.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">He was buried.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">He was raised.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">He appeared.</li>
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This time frame evidenced in the early creed places the original proclamation by the first apostles about Jesus’s resurrection very near to the time of Jesus’s death and resurrection. This development has led even critical New Testament scholars to be amazed at the early and reliable testimony evident in Paul’s writings. In fact, distinguished New Testament scholar James D. G. Dunn states, “This tradition [of Jesus’s resurrection and appearances], we can be entirely confident, was formulated as tradition within months of Jesus’ death.”<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12.75px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">3</span></div>
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Therefore, given the short interval of time between the early eyewitness testimonies about Jesus’s resurrection and the actual event itself (a mere matter of months), these accounts must be considered historically credible. There was clearly no time for myth, legend, or embellishment to accrue around the initial resurrection reports.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">4. Extraordinary Transformation of the Apostles</strong></div>
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Today’s skeptics of Jesus’s resurrection sometimes state that religious people are too quick to accept reports about miracles. Those who doubt the miraculous often insist that miracle claims aren’t usually sufficiently questioned. But was this the case among Jesus’s apostles concerning the resurrection?</div>
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The New Testament describes a remarkable and enduring transformation of 11 of Jesus’s disciples. These frightened, defeated cowards after Jesus’s crucifixion soon became bold preachers and, in some cases, martyrs. They grew courageous enough to stand against hostile Jews and Romans, even in the face of torture and martyrdom. Such amazing transformation deserves an adequate explanation, for human character and conduct does not change easily or often. Because the apostles fled and denied knowing Jesus after he was arrested, their courage in the face of persecution seems even more astonishing. The disciples attributed the strength of their newfound character to their direct, personal encounter with the resurrected Jesus. In Jesus Christ’s resurrection, the apostles found their existential reason to live—and die.</div>
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According to the earliest reports concerning Jesus’s resurrection, three of the men Jesus appeared to were either initially highly skeptical of the truth of the resurrection or adamantly opposed to Jesus’s claims of being the Messiah. Those three were Thomas, James, and Saul (who would become Paul), all of whom were predisposed to dismiss the truth of the resurrection. Since Paul’s conversion will be addressed later, let’s consider the stunning impact Jesus’s resurrection had on Thomas and James.</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Thomas the Doubter</strong></em></div>
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While Thomas was one of the original 12 apostles, he was not among the first of Jesus’s followers to see the risen Christ. Upon hearing the report from his fellow disciples concerning Jesus’s bodily resurrection, he doubted its truth. The Gospel of John conveys Thomas’s skepticism: “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+20%3A25&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">John 20:25</a>).</div>
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Though a follower of Jesus, Thomas was highly skeptical and needed direct, empirical evidence of Jesus’s actual bodily resurrection before he would believe the claim of his fellow disciples. Thomas demanded evidence of a concrete, empirical nature. He demonstrated tough-mindedness when it came to claims of the miraculous, even when the testimony came from his close friends and associates. Yet according to John’s Gospel, Thomas soon had an encounter with the resurrected Jesus that more than satisfied his doubts:</div>
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A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”</div>
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–John 20:26–28</div>
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If the resurrection was merely a concocted mythical story, it is highly unlikely that it would include the claim that one of the original 12 disciples seriously questioned Jesus’s resurrection.</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">James the Family Skeptic</strong></em></div>
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The Gospels convey that prior to the resurrection, Jesus’s brothers were highly dismissive of his messianic claims (see <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+6%3A3-4&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Mark 6:3–4</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+7%3A5&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">John 7:5</a>). In fact, Jesus’s family viewed him as suffering from mental delusion (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+3%3A21%2C+31%E2%80%9335&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Mark 3:21, 31–35</a>). Yet the early creed that Paul had been given by the apostles (which included James) reported that Jesus had appeared to his brother James (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A7&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">1 Corinthians 15:7</a>). James then became one of the critical leaders of the early Christian church, even holding unique authority at the Jerusalem Council (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+15%3A12%E2%80%9321&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Acts 15:12–21</a>). Sources in church history convey that James was later martyred for his belief in Jesus Christ.</div>
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What accounts for James’s amazing change of heart from undoubtedly being deeply embarrassed by his brother’s claims to becoming a distinguished leader in the early church, and finally to even undergoing martyrdom? The resurrection seems to best account for this radical transformation in James’s understanding and perspective. James claimed to have seen his brother alive after his public execution, and that event changed everything.</div>
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So it appears that Thomas and James seriously questioned the actual truth of Jesus’s resurrection, the way skeptics demand.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">5. The Greatest Religious Conversion Ever</strong></div>
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Some people have had dramatic religious conversions. In fact, my three favorite Christian thinkers outside of the biblical authors—St. Augustine, Blaise Pascal, and C. S. Lewis—all experienced amazing life-changing conversions to Christianity. But there is one person whose conversion to the Christian faith changed the world forever. That individual said that his spiritual transformation was due to encountering the resurrected Jesus Christ.</div>
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Saul of Tarsus was a respected, first-century Hebrew scholar of the Torah (the Law), a member of the Jewish party of the Pharisees, and a Roman citizen (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+21%3A37%E2%80%9322%3A3&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Acts 21:37–22:3</a>). Fervent in his devotion to God and in his intent to protect ancient Judaism from what he perceived as false and heretical teaching, he became the central adversary of the primitive Christian church. Saul expressed his impassioned hostility toward Christians by having them arrested and inciting physical persecution and execution of believers, including Stephen (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+7%3A54%E2%80%938%3A3&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Acts 7:54–8:3</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+1%3A13%E2%80%9314&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Galatians 1:13–14</a>). Traveling on the road to Damascus to further persecute the church (ca. AD 31–33), Saul underwent an extraordinary life-changing experience. According to his claim, Saul saw and spoke with the resurrected Jesus (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9%3A1%E2%80%9330&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Acts 9:1–30</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+22%3A5%E2%80%9313&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">22:5–13</a>). Following his dramatic conversion to the movement he once hated, he took on the Gentile name “Paul” and became the greatest advocate of the newfound Christian faith. After Jesus Christ himself, many scholars view the apostle Paul as the second most important figure in the history of Christianity. Paul went on to become the faith’s greatest missionary, theologian, and apologist as well as the inspired author of 13 New Testament books.</div>
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What caused Paul’s conversion—arguably the greatest religious conversion ever? To understand the true impact of this conversion, let’s consider what may be the modern equivalent of Paul’s first-century conversion to Christianity. Imagine the British prime minister and statesman Winston Churchill becoming a member of the Nazi party. Or the American president Ronald Reagan embracing Soviet communism. Or German Führer Adolf Hitler converting to the religion of Judaism. Whatever equivalent one rightly accepts, Paul’s conversion to Christianity was an absolutely astounding event.</div>
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But how is this extraordinary change of allegiance to be explained? According to Paul himself, the incredible transformation of one of Western civilization’s most influential religious leaders and thinkers was due to the appearance of the resurrected Christ. The conversion of the apostle Paul, not to mention his life and accomplishments, seems truly inexplicable apart from the fact of the resurrection.</div>
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It seems the only thing that could have possibly changed Saul’s incredibly negative opinion about primitive Christianity was for him to encounter its leader, Jesus of Nazareth, raised from the dead.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">6. Emergence of the Historic Christian Church</strong></div>
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Does every historic movement emerge from a specific cause? If so, what caused the Christian religion to come into being? What initiated this religious movement that within 300 years dominated the entire Roman Empire and over the course of two millennia dominated all of Western civilization? In a very short time span, Christianity developed a distinct cultural and theological identity apart from that of traditional Judaism. According to the New Testament, the unique religion of Christianity came into being directly because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.</div>
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The extraordinary historical emergence of the Christian church needs an adequate explanation. According to the Christian Scriptures, the apostles turned the world upside down with the truth of the resurrection, and the historic church emerged. This is why many have called the historic Christian church “the community of the resurrection.”</div>
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But if the resurrection didn’t cause the emergence of Christianity, what did? There seems to be no other adequate natural explanation. Thus, the heart of historic Christianity is found in the remarkable happenings of Easter Sunday.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">7. Emergence of Sunday as a Day of Worship</strong></div>
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The Hebrew people worshiped on the Sabbath, which is the seventh day of the week (measured from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday). Nevertheless, the early Christian church (which was viewed initially as a sect of Judaism) gradually changed the day of their worship from the seventh to the first day of the week (see <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+20%3A7&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Acts 20:7</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+16%3A2&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">1 Corinthians 16:2</a>; “the Lord’s Day,” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rev.+1%3A10&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Revelation 1:10</a>). For the early Christian church, Sunday uniquely commemorated Jesus’s resurrection from the dead.</div>
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Sustained reflection on Christ’s resurrection to immortal life transformed Christian worship, uniquely influencing the formulation of the sacraments of the early church (baptism and communion), and thus it distinguished the Christian faith in its theology and practice from traditional Judaism. Apart from the resurrection, no reason existed for early Christians (as a sect of Judaism) to view Sunday (the first day of the week) as having any enduring theological or ceremonial significance. The resurrection of Jesus therefore set historic Christianity apart from the Judaism of its day. That same truth of resurrected life sets the faith apart from all other religions through the centuries.</div>
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So the happening of Easter Sunday—Jesus’s resurrection—explains two things well: (1) why the Christian religion emerged as a historical movement and (2) why Christians worship on a different day of the week than the Jews. And, in turn, both of these historical elements support the factual nature of Jesus’s resurrection.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">8. Plentiful Early References to Jesus’s Resurrection in the Apostle Paul’s Letters</strong></div>
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Some critics of Christianity have asserted that the four canonical Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) appear too long after the events of Jesus’s life to carry credible testimony. There is also the concern that there are too few claims of Jesus’s resurrection made by the early eyewitnesses.</div>
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While I addressed the short time span between the events of Jesus’s life and the eyewitnesses’ claims in my third point of evidence, a little more explanation is helpful here. First, the four Gospels are much closer in time to Jesus’s life than are other ancient testimonies to both religious figures (Gautama Buddha, Confucius) and secular figures (Socrates, Caesar).</div>
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Second, not only are Paul’s references to the resurrection early (considerably earlier than the four Gospel accounts), but they are abundant in nature. Paul’s epistles contain numerous references to and descriptions of Jesus’s resurrection.</div>
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Third, some of Paul’s statements about the resurrection reflect primitive Christian creeds and hymns (see <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=+Philippians+2&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Philippians 2</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Colossians 1</a>) that date much earlier than even his earliest written letters. For example, Paul’s earliest epistles were written about 20 years after Jesus’s resurrection. But the creeds and hymns that he wove into his writings were being recited and sung by Jewish Christians back to within a few months or years of Jesus’s resurrection.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">9. The New Testament Accounts of Jesus’s Resurrection Do Not Resemble Later Apocryphal Stories</strong></div>
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The accounts of Jesus’s resurrection came from eyewitnesses and close associates of eyewitnesses. The recollections of these witnesses involve descriptions of historical, factual events. And the narrative of Jesus’s resurrection involves his physical body being raised and empirically examined, not merely rising as a spirit as in later apocryphal stories of subjective religious visions.</div>
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The apostolic reports of Jesus’s resurrection are early, plentiful, and very different than other so-called resurrection accounts.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">10. No Tomb Was Ever Venerated as the Burial Place of Jesus</strong></div>
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The burial places of famous people were often venerated in the ancient world. However, Jesus Christ is arguably the most famous person in all of history, and yet no grave or tomb was ever said to have permanently contained his body. According to his apostles, Jesus’s tomb is empty for his body has been raised. The unique Christian truth-claim is that the one-of-a-kind Jesus, the very Son of God, conquered death.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">11. A Crucified Messiah Would Have Been Viewed by All Jewish Christians as Cursed by God</strong></div>
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If Jesus had been merely crucified with no resurrection to follow, then he would have been viewed by all Jews as a false prophet who was obviously cursed by the Lord God Yahweh. Yet the viability of Christianity as a true faith was buttressed by Jesus’s resurrection. In other words, Jesus’s glorious resurrection from the dead made sense of his ignominious death. The resurrection that followed turned Jesus’s crucifixion into a divine atonement.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">12. All the Alternative Naturalistic Explanations for the Resurrection of Jesus Prove False</strong></div>
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If the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus didn’t involve the supernatural, then there should be a viable natural explanation to account for the data. Yet none of the many naturalistic alternative theories hold water.<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12.75px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">4</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px;"> </span>On careful inspection, all of them prove false or inadequate. So the fact that all of the natural explanations fail serves as one more evidence of the truth of Jesus’s resurrection.</div>
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I invite you to read through and study these 12 brief evidences for Jesus’s resurrection multiple times. Consult the scholarly resources listed below for more information and context. Grow in your knowledge of the resurrection. Consider sharing this list with other Christians who have doubts, and be ready to talk about this evidence with nonbelievers and skeptics.</div>
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If Jesus Christ actually rose from the dead—and there is plenty of good evidence that he did—then all of his followers who know him as Lord and Savior will also rise to eternal life on the last day.</div>
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If Jesus actually conquered death, then there is no news that is more important for all human beings to hear and to reflect upon. Easter really matters.</div>
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(Originally posted in seven parts in March and April 2017: <a href="http://reasons.org/explore/blogs/reflections/read/reflections/2017/03/15/12-evidences-for-the-resurrection-of-jesus-part-1" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">part 1</a>, <a href="http://reasons.org/explore/blogs/reflections/read/reflections/2017/03/22/12-evidences-for-the-resurrection-of-jesus-part-2" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">part 2</a>, <a href="http://reasons.org/explore/blogs/reflections/read/reflections/2017/03/29/12-evidences-for-the-resurrection-of-jesus-part-3" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">part 3</a>, <a href="http://reasons.org/explore/blogs/reflections/read/reflections/2017/04/05/12-evidences-for-the-resurrection-of-jesus-part-4" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">part 4</a>, <a href="http://reasons.org/explore/blogs/reflections/read/reflections/2017/04/12/12-evidences-for-the-resurrection-of-jesus-part-5" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">part 5</a>, <a href="http://reasons.org/explore/blogs/reflections/read/reflections/2017/04/19/12-evidences-for-the-resurrection-of-jesus-part-6" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">part 6</a>, <a href="http://reasons.org/explore/blogs/reflections/read/reflections/2017/04/26/12-evidences-for-the-resurrection-of-jesus-part-7" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">part 7</a>.)</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Reflections: Your Turn</strong></div>
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What do you consider to be the strongest evidence for Jesus’s resurrection? How would you order the evidence in making a cumulative case? Visit <a href="https://reflectionsbyken.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Reflections </em>on WordPress</a> to comment with your response.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Resources</strong></div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">I address the resurrection of Jesus in two of my books: <a href="https://shop.reasons.org/product/256/without-a-doubt" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Without a Doubt: Answering the 20 Toughest Faith Questions</em></a> (see chapter 10) and <a href="https://shop.reasons.org/product/275/7-truths-that-changed-the-world" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">7 Truths That Changed the World: Discovering Christianity’s Most Dangerous Ideas</em></a> (see chapters 1 and 2).</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">I also recommend <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Case-Resurrection-Jesus-Gary-Habermas/dp/0825427886/" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus</em></a> by Gary Habermas and Michael Licona and <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Knowing-Truth-About-Resurrection-1988-06-02/dp/B01LX6RPMK/" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Knowing the Truth about the Resurrection: Our Response to the Empty Tomb</a></em> by William Lane Craig.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">A further recommended source is N. T. Wright’s <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Resurrection-Christian-Origins-Question-Vol/dp/0800626796/" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Resurrection of the Son of God</em></a>.</li>
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Endnotes</h5>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">The four New Testament Gospels and various New Testament Epistles convey the historic Christian narrative concerning Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection (see <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+26%3A47-28%3A20&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Matthew 26:47–28:20</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+14%3A43-16%3A8&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Mark 14:43–16:8</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+22%3A47-24%3A53&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Luke 22:47–24:53</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+18%3A1-21%3A25&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">John 18:1–21:25</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+9%3A1-19&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">Acts 9:1–19</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+corinthians+15%3A1-58&version=NIV" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;">1 Corinthians 15:1–58</a>).</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">For more about these primitive Jewish-Christian creeds, see Ralph P. Martin, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/New-Testament-Foundations-Vol-2/dp/157910312X/" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">New Testament Foundations: A Guide for Christian Students</em></a>, vol. 2 (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 1999), 268.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">James D. G. Dunn, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Remembered-Christianity-Making-1/dp/0802839312/" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Jesus Remembered: Christianity in the Making</em></a>, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003), 855.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">For a list and critique of the common naturalistic explanations for Jesus’s resurrection, see Kenneth Samples, “Objections Examined,” chap. 2 in <a href="https://shop.reasons.org/product/275/7-truths-that-changed-the-world" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153); box-sizing: border-box; color: #705d54; text-decoration-line: none;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">7 Truths That Changed the World: Discovering Christianity’s Most Dangerous Ideas</em></a> (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2012).</li>
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</section></div>
Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-72004342360079365132018-03-31T11:29:00.000-07:002018-03-31T11:29:02.018-07:00216--A Good Friday Poem by Jan H. Boer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A Good Friday Prayer</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Jan H. Boer</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lord God, our Father;</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lord God, our Saviour,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Here we are with Jesus at the end of 33 years of living amongst us, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> After three years of healing,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> After three years of demonstrating and teaching Your Kingdom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It all <b><i>began</i> </b>with You wrapped in the swaddling cloths of birth,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> the cloth of life and of hope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It <i>seemingly</i> all <b><i>ended</i> </b>once again wrapped in cloth, but now the</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> cloth of death.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It all <b><i>began</i></b> in an animal manger, fit only for the lowest of the low;</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It all <i>seemingly</i> <b><i>ended</i></b> in a cave of death.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">And there we leave You, our Saviour.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> An <i>apparent</i> end to years of teaching the Kingdom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> In the hands of a good and upright man, who had been <i>waiting</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> For that Kingdom</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> But now was left perplexed and shattered with a dead Jesus</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> on his hands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">And there, in that tomb, we leave You</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> With a group of faithful women who had traveled Your long </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">journey with You.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Apparently</span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> only to be rewarded with that onerous task of putting</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Him away—for good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lord, we remember the words of the ancient prophet:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">You were pierced for <b><i>our</i></b> transgressions, for <b><i>mine</i></b>;</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">You were crushed for <b><i>our</i></b> iniquity, for <b><i>mine</i></b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">And You were buried for <b><i>our</i></b> sins and evil, for<b><i> mine</i></b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">There, in that tomb, we leave You.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Yes, we have a more joyful hindsight than did Joseph;</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Yes, we have a more hopeful scene of what’s ahead than the women.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">But for now, as we go home, we leave You there…</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> In the darkness of that tomb.</span></div>
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-43283661329387700722018-03-31T09:23:00.000-07:002018-03-31T09:23:03.337-07:00Post 215--Financial Nakedness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I reminded myself the other day that I really want to get Canadian stuff on this blog. I re-started on 214 and I hope I'm now on a Canuck roll. Today it's Arnold Machel, a resident of White Rock, BC. The town lies just north of the Canadian-USA border. So I am just squeezing by--assuming Machel is not an American citizen!<br />
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I am not all that familiar with the magazine in which Machel's article appears, namely <i>The Light Magazine </i>of March 2018. So, whether today's feature is part of a regular column in <i>The Light</i> or just a one-time article I do not know, but that does not really matter.<br />
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I write or, rather, pass on an article on a subject that really seems foreign to me--yes, and yet Canadian! Financial openness and honesty between married couples. The subjects seems somewhat foreign to me, for my wife and I share everything financial. We only have joint bank accounts and we only have joint emails, so that we have full access to all our finances and dealings. We also have one single mailing address. All this means we cannot hide anything from each other; we both have access to everything.<br />
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The article indicates that one-third of married Canadian couples keep financial secrets from each other or engage in "financial infidelity." I'm glad it's only one-third, but that is still a lot and, I suspect, it is on the increase, since marital ties are losing their strength as divorce increases. Financial secrets and infidelity, it seems to me, are indications of marital secrets and infidelity; they are indications of weak marital ties. When your ties are weak; if your "I do" is merely a ceremonial symbol without any serious intention behind it, then you will probably hesitate to share everything, including finance, for you never know what tomorrow will bring. My wife and my "I do" were taken seriously as vows before God and we had decided that, come what may, we will work our way through without the threat of divorce. So, we have no reason to be secretive about our finances. It is truly liberating when you don't have to hide stuff. <br />
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I plan another financial topic for Post 217,for 216 is reserved for a topic related to Good Friday and Easter. That topic is closely related to naked finance, for if you believe in the events celebrated this weekend, then chances that you have separate finance are slim, since your marriage is built on the Rock named Jesus. <br />
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So, introducing Arnold Machel!<br />
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Getting financially naked</h4>
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by Arnold Machel CFP</div>
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<em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“…and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”</em></div>
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– Luke 16:10 (NIV)</div>
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It’s been all over the news lately and it’s been dubbed “financial infidelity”. An online poll found that 36% of Canadians have lied about a financial matter to a romantic partner and 34% keep financial secrets from them. The most common form of deception was secretly <nobr style="font-size: inherit;"><a class="pxInta" href="http://lightmagazine.ca/2018/03/getting-financially-naked/#" id="PXLINK_2_0_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: initial !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: initial !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: initial !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; transition: 0.5s; vertical-align: baseline;">running</a></nobr> up a credit card bill. Other answers were “lied about income”, “made a major <nobr style="font-size: inherit;"><a class="pxInta" href="http://lightmagazine.ca/2018/03/getting-financially-naked/#" id="PXLINK_1_0_1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: initial !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: initial !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: initial !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; transition: 0.5s; vertical-align: baseline;">purchase</a></nobr> without telling me” and “went bankrupt without informing me”.</div>
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A small number of these infractions are likely simply due to a misunderstanding and/or poor communication. For example, a “major purchase” could mean something different to husband and wife. But you have to work pretty hard at concealing growing credit card debt or bankruptcy, so I’ll go out on a limb here and say that in the vast majority of these circumstances a spouse is actively involved in deceit.</div>
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I’ve seen first hand the devastating results of this type of behaviour. Years ago, I met with a nice young couple and worked with them for a few years as they raised kids and struggled financially. The wife, addicted to <nobr style="font-size: inherit;"><a class="pxInta" href="http://lightmagazine.ca/2018/03/getting-financially-naked/#" id="PXLINK_0_0_0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent !important; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: initial !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: initial !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: initial !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; transition: 0.5s; vertical-align: baseline;">gambling</a></nobr>, started hiding withdrawals from their bank account from her husband. She admitted to it when he discovered it and challenged her, but it was too late. They tried to get through it, but failed. Ultimately it caused the destruction of their marriage. My guess is that it was the deceit more than the addiction that caused the failure.</div>
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As Christians we have no excuse for this kind of deceit. Yes – we screw up. Yes – we fail. But honesty with our spouses must be held in the highest regard. And when we’re honest and contrite, it’s surprising how much grace is afforded to us.</div>
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One way to avoid getting there in the first place might be to have regular financial discussions. Couples often find it challenging to talk about sensitive subjects such as sex and money. The wife cries. The guy doesn’t know how to react. They fight and feel like they’re not getting anywhere and sometimes that may be the case – they may not be getting anywhere. Regardless of how difficult it can be, it’s important to have those deeper conversations. In some cases professional counselling may be needed.</div>
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There are often issues in a marriage that we will never resolve and we may need to accept that we will forever be on opposite sides of. But that never justifies deceit. In fact, having regular discussions makes it easier to fess up early on if there ever is even a hint of something that might lead to deceit.</div>
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More often though, regular discussion does help us move forward and to find common areas of agreement. It builds our relationships when we work together to resolve problems and/or respectfully discuss topics to try to find common ground.</div>
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Personally, my wife and I have found it relationship building to discuss our future goals, be they short, medium or long term. Visioning our future life together helps reinforce our commitment to one another and helps ensure that we are rowing in the same direction… at least most of the time. It’s not something that we do formally and it’s not specifically about money. It’s just something that, over the years, we’ve developed a habit of doing and tends to help us direct our finances.</div>
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We talk about places we want to travel to, organizations we want to support, legacies we want to create. It’s not like either one of us rubber-stamps the other’s vision. Sometimes we disagree. Sometimes one of us has to give in to the other. And sometimes alternate visions just sit there – waiting – and we have to accept the possibility that they will sit there waiting forever. The important thing is that the relationship is more important than any issue. And honesty is the cornerstone of any healthy relationship.</div>
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Valentine’s Day is over, but if you are one of the many Canadians hiding things (financial or otherwise) from your spouse, consider giving them another Valentine’s gift: honesty and repentance. Get financially naked with your spouse. It won’t be easy. And there’s a good chance that it will make your marriage harder in the short term. But keep being honest; keep talking about the deeper issues – and your marriage will be stronger for it in the long run.</div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #7b7b7b; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Arnold Machel, CFP(r) lives, works and worships in the White Rock/South Surrey area. He attends Gracepoint Community Church where he serves on the Leadership Team. He is a Certified Financial Planner with IPC Investment Corporation and Visionvest Financial Planning & Services. Questions and comments can be directed to him at <a href="mailto:dr.rrsp@visionvest.ca" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #8f8f8f; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: 0.5s; vertical-align: baseline;">dr.rrsp@visionvest.ca</a> or through his website at <a href="http://www.visionvest.ca/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #8f8f8f; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: 0.5s; vertical-align: baseline;">www.visionvest.ca</a> Please note that all comments are of a general nature and should not be relied upon as individual advice. The views and opinions expressed in this commentary may not necessarily reflect those of IPC Investment Corporation. While every attempt is made to ensure accuracy, facts and figures are not guaranteed.</em></div>
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-73048196724116088232018-03-28T15:10:00.000-07:002018-03-28T15:10:04.632-07:00Post 214--Parent 1 / Parent 2: Christie vs Justiin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #783f04;">In Post 212 I promised I would treat you to a dish of Christie--Christie Blatchford, that is, a Postmedia columnist. 212 dealt with that amazing issue of public bathrooms and transgender. Well, this one today also deals with a trans issue. And of all the luck, would you believe it? This particular column of Christie is crossed out and does not appear on the internet, which means I either keyboard it in myself or summarize--or break my promise, something that many many moons ago I pledged not to do too often. </span></h4>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">Remember those posts way back when? I promised I would try not to break too many promises, but that it is hard to avoid all the time. Just for the record, in the case of 212, I did not break any promise; I just postponed one. Hope you'll accept subtle distinctions. We writers thrive on them!</span></h4>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">Back to Christie. Her heading: "Can we put the Liberals on mute?" Her subtitle: "Government's social engineering going way too far." The "Government" she's talking about is Canada's Fed. Though in this article she applies this to gender terminology, her subtitle can be applied to a wide range of things that all lead to a desire on my part to mute the beast, period.</span></h4>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">I should be more moderate with my language. Referring to one's Government as "the beast" is a bit much and harsh. Being a Christian, the admonition in Scripture to respect, obey and pray for government is important. For a moment I forgot, which is not difficult to do, given the kind of "leadership" oozing out of Ottawa these days. </span></h4>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">I hope you remember my statement in 212 that I am fully in favour of giving our transgender friends full scope and freedom. I resist any unnecessary restriction on their freedom as well as on mine. I added to that that I do oppose and resent the agenda(s) of the extreme among them, as I do any extreme apart from those extreme in genuine Christian love. Well, the extremist(s) in this case are Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, whom Christie refers to as "that self-described proud feminist," and his hangers on. </span> </h4>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">It is so absurd that the only way I can describe the issue for you is through Christie's nimble fingers. <i>"Service Canada bosses have been given a directive telling them to use gender-neutral language to avoid 'portraying a perceived bias toward a particular sex or gender.' Instead of using the tried-and-true Mr., Mrs. or Ms., for instance, employees were told to either use a client's full name or to ask how they'd prefer to be addressed. Similarly...workers were also told to avoid such gender-specific terms a 'father' and 'mother', and to use 'parent' instead."</i></span> </h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #783f04;">Not surprisingly, it's "already causing employees grief, having to inquire of bewildered patrons if he/she is 'parent 1' or 'parent 2." Nor is it surprising that "Families Minister Duclos was furiously back-pedaling, tweeting that Service Canada would of course'continue to use Mr/Ms.... We are only confirming how people want to be addressed as a matter of respect." Christie asks, "Then why did he tell his people to stop using those particular honorifics?" She states, "This government's insistence on viewing the world through an 'equity lens' is pervasive and exhausting, not to mention distorting." </span> </h4>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #783f04;">With reference to a related issue in another section of the article, Christie writes, "I quote directly from the government's press release of the day, because I've no real idea what on earth it actually means. Towards the end of her article, "This may not be a perfect country, but for women, it comes close enough that evolution, not revolution, is all that's needed. Most of us muddle along just fine.... The last thing...the rest of us need or want is more gendered language instruction or social engineering from this strangely obsessed government." Hear! Hear!</span></h4>
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-24787760460467604662018-03-27T16:47:00.000-07:002018-03-27T16:47:01.178-07:00Post 213--The Demise of Beauty<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I promised in my last blog to do one on a Canadian. I intend to keep that promise, but am interrupting my plan for something lighter and sadder at the same time. I am passing on to you an email story from a friend of mine in Jos, Nigeria, where I used to live. The friend is Prof. Danny McCain, a distant relative, I believe, of the more famous Senator McCain in the USA. Danny wrote this story as an email letter to his adult children who are spread all over. <br />
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"The Demise of Beauty"--that sounds pretty heavy and serious, doesn't it? It also sounds heavily philosophical. Well, it is heavy and serious if you consider the life of a bird a serious and important thing, the bird in this case being a parrot called Beauty. Especially if Beauty happens to be your pet for twenty years or more, his death can be devastating to its owners. His demise may not have been noticed by the world, but it was kind of devastating to Danny and Mary. <br />
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So, please read this story, both charming and sad. It is so good that we humans, ruthless as we often are to each other and to animals, can also have such a long and tender relationship to animals. Sometimes we think that nature is more at peace with itself than we humans are, but that is not always the case. In this story there is a strong and tender connection between humans and an animal, while <br />
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Dear Family</div>
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Last night, shortly after we went to bed, we heard a very terrible screech from Beauty--a real parrot screech of terror. We looked out but could see nothing. This morning when Mary went outside, she found that something had attacked Beauty. She appeared to have one eye scratched out. There were about four of five large feathers in the floor of the bird cage. Beauty was huddled over in a corner. Mom called a veterinarian about possibly repairing her eye. I was quite amazed that at mid-morning, Beauty was out there making all of the typical sounds that she normally makes. She seemed quite happy. </div>
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When I came back in the mid-afternoon, she had moved to a different perch. That was good news. I was encouraged. However, she did not seem to have much appetite. Around dark, she had moved back to the edge of the cage and was sitting there with her head lowered down. </div>
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About 8:40 this evening, Amos came into my office to inform me that Beauty had "given up." She had fallen from her perch and was lying upside down with her little feet sticking in the air and her red tail feathers all spread out in their red glory.</div>
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We assumed that this was a big rat that had climbed up into her cage and attacked her. As you know we have some rats that are as big as small cats. However, when Adamu got here this evening, he said it was a black and white cat. Apparently, Beauty saw the animal and stuck her head out at the cat and the cat really went after her. Apparently she was injured more than just a scratched eye. Adamu is on the lookout for that cat.</div>
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Beauty came to live with us during the summer of 1989. She had been owned by a family from Mississippi named Jess and Dot Boggin who worked at NAVCON, a fertilizer company near Port Harcourt. We had seen Beauty many times when we had gone out there to visit them. She made the move with us to Jos and has been out there on that porch ever since squeaking and squawking and making braking sounds and squeaky door sounds and speaking in English and Hausa with a Louisiana accent. Even though she was loud and made a mess, we would bring her into the house during the cold weather, at times trying to keep her from biting my hand as we moved the cage. She loved Mom and any time she came near she would poke her head out of the cage and lowered it so Mary would rub her head. The first 20 years we had her, I was not her favorite friend and she tried to bite me every time I came near her cage. She has been successful several times. However, she mellowed over the years and I don't think she has tried to bite me in 10 years or so. Maybe once.</div>
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This evening, Amos and Adamu dug a hole between an orange tree and a Mango tree not too far from where Sarki is buried. We put Beauty in a little wrapper and Adamu lowered her into the ground with the words of Jesus who said, "But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it" (Matthew 10:29 ). Beauty was much bigger than a sparrow and much bigger in our lives than many things so I am sure the Lord noticed our little loss.</div>
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Beauty has been such a part of our family that we will hardly know what to do without her. No more peanuts and fried eggs (she was kind of a cannibal); no more getting her the small avocados that fall from the tree and mango seeds to chew on. No more enjoying her loud belly laughs and her making the sound of water being poured into her water container. However, we will always live with the happy memory of this rather obnoxious, loud, beautiful and ever present friend.</div>
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Be sure to shed a tear tonight for Beauty.</div>
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072066756363571933.post-56885798982226026262018-03-24T16:36:00.002-07:002018-03-24T16:36:54.789-07:00Post 212--Result of Ignoring Gender<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
This is my no. 2 today. The pressure of my main retirement job, namely building an ONLINE CHRISTIAN ACADEMIC LIBRARY, is off for a couple of weeks. That gives me more time for doing this and another blog (Christian-MuslimWorld). </h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Some time ago, I complained about Canadian authors resorting too much to American sources. I meant that sincerely, but recently am finding myself doing the same thing. I apologize. It's not hypocrisy so much as being busy and not having enough time to do the Canadian research. America is huge and it's all over the place. Americans are activistic, much more so, I believe, than we Canadians. They've got ten times as many people and, probably, ten times as many researchers and writers. Given their activistic nature, probably more than ten times. I will try to restrain myself and do more Canadian stuff. Of course, most of the issues I write about are similar in both countries. </h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Another but related issue is that American Christians are much more activistic than us Canadian Christians. They are also more in number and thus have more people to speak up against the awful things that the secular or post-modern crown tries to impose on us. One has to look longer and harder to find Canadian Christian writings objecting to the raw secular Canadian culture. I promise: The next post will zero in on a Canadian writer, a woman even!: Christie Blatchford. </h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Now I want it understood that I do not identify with many issues that American or Canadian Christians promote. I am strongly in favour of giving my gay neighbours their rights of marriage, for example, but I do not favour or champion the gay agenda which is to accept homosexuality as normal and even desirable. </h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Today's issue is the Transgender Bathroom law. This contribution is about Alaska, but we face the same issue here in Canada with the same problems. I am quite sure most Canadian women will object just as much about having men intrude into their public bathrooms, not to speak of perverts. I doubt that anyone consciously chooses to be trans, but some people somehow or another are that. We need to accept them and give them the space they need, but I do not go along with the extremists described below. </h3>
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So, here goes: </h3>
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THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018</div>
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All across America, communities are pushing back against LGBT extremists and their political allies who insist on imposing a dangerous gender ideology of allowing biological men into the most intimate, private areas reserved for females – including showers, bathrooms, locker rooms and changing areas. NOM has helped champion this push back at the federal level, successfully urging President Trump to repeal Obama's transgender directive to the public schools and in our military, and in communities like Houston where we successfully urged voters to overturn the transgender bathroom law imposed on their community.</div>
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Just like the Houston City Council did, local politicians in Anchorage, Alaska ignored the wishes of citizens and enacted an ordinance that allows men to force their way into intimate areas reserved for women and girls simply by claiming a female "gender identity." And just like in Houston, citizens have risen up to say "enough" and put the issue on the ballot. It will be decided at the April 3rd municipal election.</div>
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<strong><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fworldcongress.us2.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3D71b5ff0a93830214b96a42bf6%26id%3Dec8d62e022%26e%3Df09882d2fe&data=02%7C01%7C%7C54a19e69ef6742e0d28008d59032acb2%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636573469674426280&sdata=7YvtehbHFauiyCM5U9lmdgtm6SWx0W17o4YmsiyC3zk%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://worldcongress.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=71b5ff0a93830214b96a42bf6&id=ec8d62e022&e=f09882d2fe" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="kDqwv8qzVxN6zav03Y7eXq1WVQHfqM06V8P2C3FVHjJp/2Ou7ukZGtGrk8qZHHLDKA02tboQTu5X+UUhVbulIKe6ExDxi+Dym0w3hCJM2+dOrb7yT4s/ewpkYsIOOL5duu7eVfLLiKf5YdmBVK7ZNV6G2YJLlhrLCbZcG993YpA=" style="border: none; color: #22537c;" target="_blank">I'm asking you to step up to make a generous financial contribution to the Yes on 1, Protect Our Privacy campaign in Anchorage.</a> Polls show that voters oppose the transgender bathroom law and are ready to overturn it. But LGBT activists are flooding Anchorage with outside money in an attempt to confuse the issue and mislead the electorate.</strong></div>
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<span style="text-align: inherit;">LGBT activists can't come up with convincing arguments to persuade voters to endorse their position, so instead they resort to ugly attacks on opponents, labeling them bigots. We say, "baloney." Preventing men from having access to women in intimate areas like showers and bathrooms isn't about bigotry, it's about biology.</span></div>
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It's also about common sense and respecting the wishes of women, including victims of sexual assault and abuse. Many women simply are uncomfortable being in a vulnerable situation, including being in a state of undress, in the presence of a biological male. Forcing them to do so disrespects their rights, violates their privacy and risks their safety.</div>
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The LGBT activists say there's no problem with men who claim a female "identity" showering with women, or sharing the same intimate areas like changing rooms and restrooms. But it sure didn't take long for Anchorage residents to see that there is a problem.</div>
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Just a few weeks ago a man claiming to be a woman demanded access to an Anchorage women's shelter that serves homeless women and female victims of sexual assault and is run by local Christian churches. According to media reports, the man has a criminal record and had been kicked out of another shelter for fighting. After the Christian-run shelter refused him access, the man filed a complaint with the local Equal Rights Commission and is trying to get them to order the shelter to give him access to the women because of Anchorage's transgender bathroom law. The Commission is actively considering doing just that.</div>
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There are plenty of better ways to accommodate those who believe they are transgender without sacrificing the privacy and safety of young girls and women. </div>
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The results of this municipal election will reverberate far beyond the city limits of Anchorage. A victory there, just like what happened in Houston, will send a powerful message to officials across the country that it's time to stop pandering to LGBT extremists and start standing up for common sense. </div>
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Jan/John H. Boerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10445918477538084931noreply@blogger.com0